
Qass 

Book- - 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 



I 



Annals 



OF 



Fort 
Mackinac 




DWIGHT H. KELTON, 



CAPTAIN U. S. ARMY. 



BRAMHALL EDITION. 




BUY OR BUST. 






IF WE DON'T SELL YOU A COPY OF THE 



ANNALS - 




FORT 
MACKINAC 



BY 

DWIGHT H. KELTON. LL.D., 

Captain u. S. army. 



PRICE 25c. ^^ ^^^^^ 30c. 

JOHN W. DAVIS & SON, 

Mackinac Island, Mich., 

^ GENERAL AGENTS FOR THIS EARTH AND CHICAGO. 



THE 



New Mackinac 

(Built upon the site of the "Mackinac House," which 
\vas burned in January, 1887.) 

MACKINAC ISLAND, - ^ MiCH. 



100 GOOD ROOMS. TEN FIRE ESCAPES. 

HOT AND COLD BATHS. ARTESIAN WELL WATER. 

MILK AND BUTTER FROM OUR JERSEY DAIRY. 

EGGS AND CHICKENS FROM OUR FARM. 



This house is well arranged for the comfort of tourists, and is conveniently 

located on the Lake front, and forty feet from the only passenger 

wharf on the Island. The furniture, carpets, etc., are 

all "new." The house is equipped with electric 

bells, and modern conveniences. 

SAUE MAGK HIRE TO AMD FROM YOUR HOTEL. 



FRED. R. EMERICK, PROPRIETOR AND MANAGER. 



This hotel was built for the special comfort of summer boarders. 

On arrival each gueet will be asked how he likes the situation, and if he says the Hotel 
ought to have been placed upon Fort Holmes or ©n Round Island, the location of the Hotel 
will be immediately changed. 

Corner front rooms, up one flight, for every guest. Baths, gas, electricity, hot and 
cold water, laundry, telegraph, restaurant, fire alarm, bar-room, billiard table, sewing 
machine, piano, and all modern conveniences in every room. Meals every minute, and 
consequently no second table. 

Every guest will have the best seat in the dining hall. 

Our clerk was specially educated for the "New Mackinac" he wears the original 
Koh-i-noor diamond, and is prepared to please everybody. He is always ready to sing, 
matth worsted, take a hand at draw-poker, play billiards, sharpen your pencil, take you 
out rowing, lead the german, amuse the children, make a fourth at whist, or flirt with any 
young lady, and will not mind being cut dead when Pa comes down. He will attend to the 
telephone and answer all questions in Choctaw, Chinese, Chippewa, Volapuk, or any other 
of the Court languages of Europe. 

The proprietor will always be happy to hear that some other hotel is "the best in the 
country." Special attention given to parties who give information as to "how these 
things are done in Chicago." 



n 



INDIAN NAMES OF 
iss'^s- PLACES NEAR THE 

By mail, 350. PDrHT T 1\WQ ^' 



GREAT lakes; 



DWIGHT H. KELTON, LL. D., 

CAPTAIN U. S. ARMY. 



This is the Best Selling Book of this Century. 

ST. IGNACE REPUBLICAN 

p. D. BISSELL, Editor. 

St. Ignace, Mackinac County, Mich. 



PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY. 



$2.00 — A. YEA]^ — $2.00 




FAIRY ARCH. 



ANNALS 



Fort Mackinac 



DWIGHT H. I^ELTON, LL.D., 

CAPTAIN U. S. ARMY. 



AUTHOR OF INDIAN NAMES OF PLACES NEAR THE GREAT LAKES. 
AUTHOR OF INDIAN NAMES AND HISTORY OF THE SAULT STE. MARIE CANAL. 
CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE WISCONSN STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 
CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE MINNESOTA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 
CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE KANSAS STATE H STORICAL SOCIETY- 
CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE CHICAGO HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 
MEMBER OF THE VERMONT STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 







BRAMHALL EDITION. 

1894-- 









Copyright, 1882, by Dwight H. Kelton. 
Copyright, 1883, by Dwight H. Kelton. 
Copyright, 1884, by Dwight H. Keltcn. 
Copyright, 1886, by Dwight H. Kelton. 
Copyright, 1887, by Dwight H, Kelton. 
Copyright, 1888, by Dwight H. Kelton. 
Copyright, 1889, by DwiGHT H. Kelton. 
Copyright, 1890, by DwiGHT H. Kelton. 
Copyright, 1891, by Dwight H. Kelton. 
Copyright, 1892, by Dwight H. Kelton. 
Copyright, 1893, by Dwight H. Kelton. 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1894, by 

DWIGHT H. KELTON, 
in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 



y 



A 



PRINTED liY 

Detroit Free Press Printing Co. 



Beauteous Isle ! I sing of thee, 

Mackinac, my Mackinac; 
Thy lake-bound shores I love to see, 
Mackinac, my Mackinac. 
From Arch Rock's height and shelving steep 
To western cliffs and Lover's Leap, 
Where memories of the lost one sleep, 
Mackinac, my Mackinac. 

Thy northern shore trod British foe, 

Mackinac, my Mackinac: 
That day saw gallant Holmes laid low, 
Mackinac, my Mackinac. 
Now Freedom's flag above thee waves, 
And guards the rest of fallen braves. 
Their requiem sung by Huron's waves, 
Mackinac, my Mackinac. 




t, f A\ Bi C, HJ m Q c, K 

MA C K I N A C M LC YU 




Arch Rock, Mackinac Island. 



GREETING. 



For courtesies received I am under obligations to: — 

Col. Clarence E. Bennett, U. S. A., Rev. C. L. 

WooDWORTH, Jr., Major Jno. J. Byrne, Captain A. A. 

ScHANTZ, Ray C. Davis, Esq., and P. D. Bissell, Esq. 
This edition is named in honor of Col. Frank J. Bram- 

HALL, of C-hicago, Illinois. 

COLDWATER, MICHIGAN, 
JULY, 1894. 



From Vol. I of Kelton's "Indian Names 
of Places Near the Great Lakes/' 

Chicago. (111.) Zhikagong, the locative case of zhikago, 
"a skunk," also used as a personal nan e. f 

Early French writers mention a elder named Chicagou, 
who lived near the site of the present city. According to 
tradition, Chicagou was drowned in the river. 

Whatever may have been the occasion for applying that 
name to the locality, there can be no question about the ety- 
mology of the word. Algic proper names are very commonly 
derived from the name of animals by the addition of o. 
Thus ZhikagOy is zhikag used as a man's name ; and zhikag^ 
or zhigag, is the Mephitis Americana^ or "skunk." The 
English term " skunk," itself is a corruption of the Abenaki 
form of the word, which is, sikango. 

Some have sought to lend dignity to the term, by tracing 
in its first syllable, the second syllable of kichi, "great." 
This is plainly inconsistent with the Indian pronunciation of 
the name. 

The origin of the word, however undignified, is plain : 
zhig^ is the Latin mvngere ; and kag^ or gag^ though now 
restricted to the porcupine species, was originally any horrid 
little beast ; hence zhi-kag, is equal to hestiola foeda mingens. 

Others have had recourse to zhigagawazh "wild garlic;" 
but this does not help matters, for the ugly root zhig, is still 
there, followed by -agawazh, " a plant ;" hence planta v/ri- 
nam redolens. 



Contents. 

PAGE 

Aucieut Michilimakinac I'^iS 

Ancient Names of -River's and Lalies, 101 

American Fur Company 51 

American Officers, 20 

Battle on Mackinac Island, in 1814, 215 

British Officers HG 

Capture of Fort Mackinac in 1812 2 i7 

Collectors of Customs, 48 

Conspiracy of Pontiac, . . 202 

County Clerks 49 

Early Michigan, ITf* 

Fort Mackinac, 20 

French Officers, 176 

Governors of Michigan, . . • . 18'2 

Historical Events, chronologically arranged, 184 

Indian Agents, , 48 

Legend of Arch Rock .... 67 

Legend of the Celestial Sisters S!) 

Legend of the Enchanted Moccasins, .111 

Legend of the Giant Bear, 116 

Legend of tlie Giant Fairies, 77 

Legend of the Humpbacked Manitou, 1<>3 

Legend of Lover's Leap, . 61 

Legend of Mackinac Island 71 

Legend of Mishini-Makinak, ^'3 

Legend of the Red Swan, 133 

Legend of Robertson's Folly, .57 

Legend of Shingebiss 87 

Legend of the Spirit of Sleep, . . .101 

Legend of the Stone Canoe, 107 

Legend of the Summer Maker, 49 

Legend of the White Feather, 148 

Light Houses 50 

Mackinac Island, 15 

National Park, 41 

Postmasters, 49 

Priests 45 

Probate Court, Judges, 48 

Presidents of the Village, 49 

Summer Residences, - 239 



Jd^CKIN^C l^wp, 



MICHIGAN. 



EnUred accordin^to Act of Congress in 1883, by 
H. Keltuh. 



Scale, 2 inches to 1 Mile. 




^Ledyard's 
'1 Cliffs 



MACKINAC ISLAND. 16 



Mackinac Island. 



Latitude 45° 51' North. 

Jjongitiide 84° 36' West of Greenwich, 



This island is situated in the Straits of Mackinac, about 
four miles east of the narrowest part ; fifteen miles from 
Lake Huron and thirty from Lake Michigan ; it contains 
2,221 acres, of which 911 are in the National Park, 103 are 
in the Military Reservation, and 1,207 are private claims. 



The stratums of limestone which form the base of 
Mackinac Island, are identical with the lower division of 
the Helderberg series, while the stratums which form the 
upper portion of the island contain a good many fossils 
characteristic of the Upper Helderberg system, though but 
few of them are well preserved. 

The rocks on the island give undeniable evidences of the 
former prevalence of the water, to the height of 250 feet or 
more above the present level of the surrounding waters, 
though it is not intended to allege that the water of the 
lakes, as such, has ever stood at the level of the summit of 
Pyramid Rock ; nor do we speak upon the question whether 



16 ANNALS OF FOKT MACKINAC. 

the changes have been caused by the subsidence of the lakes, 
or the uplift of the island. 

The Arched and Pyramid rocks owe their shape and posi- 
tion to tlie denudino: action of the waters, which durine: the 
drift period swept away the softer and disintegrating 
material, which surrounded these harder and more com- 
pact brecciated limestones. 



The mean surface of the water in the Straits of Mackinac 
is 581 feet above the mean tide at New York. There is a 
variation of about five feet in the height of the water in 
the Straits. 

The greatest depth of water on the bar between Mackinac 
and Kound islands is 40 feet; on the bar between Koiind 
and Bois Blanc islands, 16 feet; between Bois Blanc island 
and the main-land of the southern peninsula, 84 feet ; 
between Mackinac Island and St. Ignace, 210 feet. 

The greatest depth of water in the Straits is at a point 
about midway between St. Ignace and Mackinaw City, 
where it is 252 feet deep. 



The following are the principal fishes which are found 
in what may be termed, Mackinac waters: 

Burbot, — Lota maculosa; Fresli -Water Drum, — Hap- 
loidonotus grunniens; Great Lake Catfish, — Ictahivus 
nigricans; Lake Herring, — Coregonus ariedi; Lake Stur- 
geon, — Acipenser ruhicundus; Lake Trout, — Salvelinus 
namaycush; Lake White-Fish, — Coregonus clupeiformis; 
Moon-Eye, — Hyodon tergisus; Muskellunge, — Esox nobilr 



MACKINAC I8LANU. 17 

tor / Pike, — Esox lucius • Rock Bass, — Arribloplitea 
rupestris I Sun Fish, — Lepomis gihhosus ,' Wall-Ejed 
Pike, — Stizostedion vitreumi White Bass, — Roccvs chry- 
sops; Yellow Perch, — Perca americana. 

Several of the above have different local names. 



Of the shell-bearing animals, specimens of three general 
groups only are found on the Island ; viz., land snails ; fresh- 
water snails ; and fresh- water mussels. 



The average temperature of the waters in the Straits 
during the months of June, July, August and September, 
is 56, 63, 64 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively. 



The yearly average of the Maxirmim and the MinimuTn 
temperatures for the different months is as follows: 

January, 39, — 16 ; February, 42, —19 ; March, 45, —13 ; 
April, 68, 9; May, 78, 30; June, 80, 40; July, 85, 47; 
August, 86, 44; September, 81, 37; October, 73, 25; Nov- 
ember, 62, 14 ; December, 47, 3 ; in degrees, Fahrenheit. 



The average total precipitation for a year, — including 
melted snow, — is 28 inches. 

The average rainfall for the months of June, July, 
August and September, is 2.20 ; 2.79 ; 2.31 and 2.12 inches, 
respectively. 



18 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

The thickness of the ice bridge which is formed across 
the Straits in winter, varies with the winter seasons ; how- 
ever, in a very cold winter, ice is formed to the thickness 
of about four feet. 



The following is the height in feet, of the places speci- 
fied, above the mean surface of the water in the Straits : 

Port Mackinac — parade ground 133 

Fort Mackinac — highest gun-platform 161 

Fort Holmes— the platform 336 

Top of the Pyramid Rock 285 

Top of the Chimney Rock 13 5 

Robertson's Folly 128 

Highest point of the Arch Rock 15 

Top of the Arch 140 

Buttress facing the lake at Arch Rock 110 

Top of the Lover's Leap 145 

Lower Plateau of the Island 150 

Upper Plateau of the Island 395 



ANNALS OF FOKT MACKLNAO. 



Fort Mackinac. 

There are various ways of reaching the Fort from the 
village; probably the best is "up the steps," the view at 
the top being well worth the breath it costs. 

Now follow us, and we will show you through the Fort. 

The old block-house on our left was built in 1T80-S2, by 
the British troops ; for several years after they were built 
the block-houses were used as barracks for the troops, each of 
the three stories having been provided with an open fire- 
place; beyond, to the left, are two buildings, officers' quar- 
ters, built in 1876 ; passing along toward the flag-staff, we 
come to another set of officers' quarters, built in 1835, and 
another old block-house, the upper story of which contains a 
wooden tank, into which water is pumped from a spring at 
the foot of the bluff, and distributed through pipes into 
various buildings. This innovation on the water-wagon was 
made in accordance with a plan devised by, and executed 
under the direction of Lieut. Dwight H. Kelton, U. S. A.; 
water was first pumped October 11, 1881. 

While reinforcing the flag-staff in 1869, a bottle was taken 
out of the base, containing a parchment upon which was 
written : 



fo£t mackinao. 21 

Headqitakters Fort Mackinac, 
May 25th, 1835. 

This flag-staff erected on the 25th day of May, 1835, by "A" aud "Q" 
Compaaies, of the 3d Regiment of Infantry, stationed at this post. 
The following Officers of the 2d Infantry were present: 

Captain John Glitz, . . . "A" Company, Com'd'g Post. 

Captain E. Kerby Barnum, . "G" Company. 

Ist-Lieut. J. J. B. Kingsbury, . "G" Company. 

2d-Lieut, J. W. Penrose, . "G" Company, A.O.S. 

2d-Lieut. J. V. Bomford, . . "H" Company. 

Asst.- Surgeon Geo. F. Turner, U.S. A: 

David Jones,. , . . Sutler. 

Absent Officers: 

Ist-Lieut. J. S. Gallagher, "A" Company, Adjutant. 

2d-Lieut. J. H. Leavenworth, "A" Company, on Special Duty. 

Colonel Hugh Brady, Bvt.-Brig. General, Commanding Left Wing, 
Eastern Department, Headquarters at Detroit. 

Lieut.-Colonel Alexander Cummings, Commanding 2d Regiment, 
Headquarters Madison Barracks, Sacket's Harbor, New York. 

President of the United States, Andrew Jackson, 

Builder (of flag-staff), John McCraith, Private, "A" Company, 
2d Infantry. 

Going down the steps to the right, we are brought face to 
face with one of the historical landmarks of this country, 
the building in which this book was written, the old stone 
officers-quarters, built in 1781-2, witli walls from two and a 
half to eight feet thick ; formerly the windows had iron 
bars across them. In 1812, the basement of this building 
aud the old block-houses were used as prisons, in which 
Captain Roberts detained the men and larger boys of the 
village, after the capture of the Fort, until he decided what 



22 ANNALS OF FOKT MACKINAC. 

to do with them. Those who took the oath of allegiance 
to Great Britain were released and allowed to return to 
their homes ; the .others were sent to Detroit. Mr. Michael 
Dousman was permitted to remain neutral and was not dis- 
turbed. In 1814, the basement of this building and the block- 
houses were used as a place of refuge for the women and 
children of the village, while the vessels containing the 
American troops were anchored off the island. 

The old wooden building on our right, now used as a 
storehouse, was built for a hospital in 1828, on the site of 
the original hospital built by the British, and it is said to be 
nightly haunted by the noisy and visible ghosts of some 
Indians who were in early days the victims of the inquiring 
mind and deadly knife of a morbidly ambitious surgeon. 

The long, low wooden building at the other end of the 
stone-quarters, formerly officers' quarters, is now used as a 
storehouse ; facing it are the barracks, a two-story frame- 
building, built in 1859, occupied by two companies of 
soldiers, one on each floor, with mess-rooms, etc., complete 
lor each. 

We come next to the guard-house, built in 1828 ; beyond 
is the south sall3'-port, in which the old gates still remain in 
])lace. Turning toward the north sally-port, on our right, 
there was in early days a well more than one hundred feet 
in depth, which furnished an abundance of good water for 
the uses of the garrison; the first building on our right is 
the office and storehouse of the commissary of subsistence, 
built in 1877, on the site of the old stone powder-magazine; 
the first office in the small building adjacent is that of the 
commanding officer and the adjutant, and adjoining it is the 
office of the quartermaster, which is connected by a covered 
passage-way with the storehouse beyond, built on the site of 
the post-bakery of earlier days ; the building beyond is a 



FORT MACKINAC. 23 

bath-house, built in 1885, on the site of the old sutler's store. 

Going up the path from the guard-house we will examine 
the "reveille gun," and take a glimpse at the magnificent 
view from the gun-platform. Below, at the foot of the 
bluff, are the government stables, blacksmith shop, and gran- 
ary ; beyond them the company gardens, where the build- 
ings of the Indian agency stood in earlier days. 

In front of us is Round Island, where, for a long time, 
there was a large Indian village, the only remnant of which 
is an Indian burying-ground, on the southeastern part of the 
island. There is also an old burying-ground on Bois Blanc 
Island. It is a singular fact that all these Indian graves were 
dug due east and west. 

Wanchusco, a celebrated spiritualist of the Ottawa tribe, 
lived on Round Island for several years previous to his death, 
which occurred September 30, 1837. 

To the left of Round Island is Bois Blanc Island. 

The building in our rear is the hospital, built in 1858; 
leaving it to our right, we pass another old block-house, and 
over the old north sally-port, just outside of which, on July 
17th, 1812, the British troops stood in line and presented 
arms while Lieuts. Porter Hanks and Archibald Darragh 
marched the American troops out, with arms reversed, to 
receive their parole as prisoners of war. 

Passing on we come to the library, built in 1879. 

When built, the fort was enclosed by a stockade ten feet 
high, made of cedar pickets, into the tops of which were 
driven irons with three sharp prongs projecting. Formerly 
all tiie buildings belonging to the fort were within this 
stockade. 

A better idea of the block-houses as they appeared then, 
and of the stockade, may be obtained from the illustrations, 
which are reduced from old drawings. 



24 

■ANNALS OF FOKT MACKINAO. 



The flags of three great nations have successively floated 
over the post at Michilimackinac, which has been the theatre 
'of many a bloody tragedy. Its possession has been disputed 
by powerful nations, and its internal peace has continually 
been made the sport of Indian treachery and white man's 
duplicity. To-day, chanting te deums beneath the ample 
folds of the Jleur-cle-lia, to-morrow yielding to the power of 
the British lion, and a few years later, listening to the ex- 
ultant screams of the American eagle, as the stars and 
stripes ^float over the battlements on the "Isle of the dancing 
spirits." The historical reminiscences rendering it classic 
ground, and the many wild traditions, peopling each rock 
and g-len with spectral habitants, combine to throw around 
Mackinac an interest and attractiveness unequalled by any 
other place on the Western Continent. 




View of Fort Mackinac from the Southwest 



26 



ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 



United States Army. 



The following is a complete list of the commissioned offi- 
cers of the United States Army who have been stationed 
at Fort Mackinac. The year of their arrival at the Fort and 
their actual rank at that time are given. 



1796. 


Henry Biirbeck, 


Major, 


Artillerists and Eng'rs. 


<< 


Abner Prior, 


Captain, 


1st Infantry. 


«« 


Ebenezer Massay, 


Lieutenant, 


Artillerists and Eng'rs. 


<< 


John Michael, 


(< 


1st Lifantry. 


1800. 


Richard Whiley, 


1st Lieutenant. 


Artillerists and Eng'rs. 


1802. 


Thomas Hunt, 


Major, 


1st 


•< 


Josiah Dunham, 


Captain, 


Artillerists and Eng'rs. 


« 


Francis Le Barron, 


Surgeon's Mate. 




1804. 


Jacob Kingsbury, 


Lieut. -Colonel, 


1st Infantry. 


1807. 


Jonathan Eastman, 


1st Lieutenant, 


Artillerists. 


1808. 


Lewis Howard,* 


Captain 


" 


« 


Porter Hanks, 


1st Lieutenant, 


<< 


" 


Archibald DaiTagh, 


2d 


" 


1810. 


Sylvester Day, 


Garrison Surgec 


)n's Mate. 


1815. 


Anthony Butler, 


Colonel, 


2d Rifles. 


<< 


Willoughby Morgan, 


Captain, 


Riflemen. 


" 


Talbot Chambers, 


Major, 


" 


« 


Joseph Kean, 


Captain, 


« 


i< 


John O'Fallon, 


•' 


« 


<< 


John Heddelson, 


1st Lieutenant 


<< 


«i 


James S. Gray, 


2d 


« 


«< 


WUliam Armstrong, 


2d 


(( 


« 


William Hening, 


Surgeon's Mate. 




« 


Benjamin K. Pierce, 


Captain, 


Artillery. 


« 


Robert McClallan, Jr., 


1st Lieutenant, 


« 


<t 


Lewis Morgan, 


1st 


.< 



* Died at Fort Mackinac, January 13, 1811. 



UNITED STATES AEMT. 



27 



1815 


George 8. Wilkins, 


2d Lieutenant, 


Artillery. 


<< 


John 8. Pierce, 


2d 


" 


<< 


Thomas J. Bau-d, 


3d 


" 


1816. 


John Miller, 


Colonel, 


3d Infantry. 


<< 


John McNeil, 


Major, 


5th " 


« 


Charles Gratiot, 


" 


Engineers. 


t< 


William Whistler, 


Captain, 


8d Infantry. 


« 


John Greene, 


" 


3d 


<< 


Daniel Curtis, 


1st Lieutenant, 


3d 


« 


John Garland, 


1st 


3d 


« 


Turby P. Thomas, 


1st 


3d 


« 


Henry Conway, Jr., 


1st 


3d 


« 


James Dean, 


2d 


3d 


« 


Andrew Lewis, 


2d 


3d 


«< 


Asher Phillips, 


Paymaster, 


3d 


•< 


Edward Purcell, 


Hospital Surgeon's Mate. 


1817. 


Albion T. Crow, 


" 


" 


<< 


William S. Eveleth, 


2d Lieutenant, 


Engineers. 


1818. 


Edward Brooks, 


1st 


3d Infantry. 


" 


Joseph P. Russell, 


Post Surgeon. 




1819. 


Joseph Gleason,* 


1st Lieutenant, 


5th Infantry 


<< 


William Lawrence, 


Lieut. -Colonel, 


2d 


« 


William S. Comstock, 


Surgeon's Mate 


, 3d 


<< 


Peter T. January, 


2d Lieutenant, 


3d 


<( 


John Peacock, 


2d 


3d 


1821. 


William Beaumont, 


Post Surgeon. 




<• 


Thomas C. Legate, 


Captain, 


2d Artillery. 


« 


Elijah Lyon, 


1st Lieutenant, 


8d 


«< 


James A. Chambers, 


2d 


2d 


<< 


Joshua Barney, 


2d 


2d 


1822. 


James M. Spencer, 


1st 


2d 


1823. 


Alfixanflftr D W Pannir 


ig. Captain. 


2d 


4< 


William Whistler, 


" 


3d Infantry. 


" 


Samuel W. Hunt, 


1st Lieutenant, 


3d 


« 


Aaron H. Wright, 


2d 


3d 


«< 


George H. Crosman, 


2d 


6th " 


u 


Stewart Cowan. 


2d 


3d " 



♦ Died at Fort Mackinac, March 37, 1820. 



28 



ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 



1825. WUliam Hofl'man, 

" Richard S. Satterlee, 

" Carlos A. Wait, 

" Seth Johnson, 

1826. David Brooks, 

" Alexander R. Thompson, 

1827. James G. Allen. 
" Edwin James, 

*' Ephraim K. Barnum, 

" Edwin V. Sumner, 

" Samuel T. Heintzelman, 

1828. Charles F. Morton, 
" Sullivan Burbank, 
" Robert A. McCabe, 
" William Alexander, 
" Abner R. Hetzel, 

" Josiah H. Vose, 

1829. James Engle, 
" Amos Foster, 
" Enos Cutler, 

" Moses E. Merrill, 

" Ephraim Kirby Smith, 

" Isaac Lynde, 

" Caleb C. Sibley, 

" William E. Cruger, 

" Louis T. Jamison, 

1830. Henry Clark. 

1831. John T. Collingsworth, 
Robert McMillan, 

1832. George M. Brooks, 
" WaddyV. Cobbs, 

" Joseph S. Gallagher, 

" George W. Patten, 

'* Thomas Stockton, 

" Alexander R. Thompson, 

" John B. F. RHSsell, 

1833. William Whistler. 

" Ephraim K. Barnum, 



Captain, 


2d Infantry. 


Assist. Surgeon 






2d Lieutenant, 


2d Infantry. 


1st 


2d 


i< 


2d 


2d 


<f 


Captain, 


2d 


" 


2d Lieutenant, 


5th 


<< 


Assist. Surgeon 






1st Lieutenant, 


2dL 


tifautry. 


2d 


2d 




2d 


2d 




1st 


2d 




Captain, 


5th 
5th 




1st Lieutenant, 


5tJi 




2d 


2d 




Major, 


5th 




2d Lieutenant, 


5th 




2d 


5th 




Lieut. -Colonel, 


3d 




2d Lieutenant, 


5th 




2d 


5th 




2d 


5th 




2d 


5th 




1st 


5th 




2d 


5th 




1st 


5th 




2d 


5th 




Assist. Surgeon 


, Medical Department. 


Colonel, 


5th] 


[nfautiy. 


Captain, 


2d 




1st Lieutenant, 


2d 




2d 


2d 




Bvt. 2d Lieut., 


5th 




Major, 


6th 




Captain, 


5th 




Major, 


2d 




Captain, 


2d 





UNITED STATES ARMY. 



29 



1833. 


Joseph R. Smith, 


1st Lieutenant, 


2d " 


<i 


James W. Penrose, 


2d 


2d 


(• 


Charles S. Frailey, 


Assist. Surgeon, 


Medical Department. 


«( 


Gteorge F. Turner 


" 


" " 


1884. 


Jesse H. Leavenworth, 


2d Lieutenant, 


2d Infantry. 


" 


John Glitz,* 


Captain, 


2d 


1885. 


James V. Bomford, 


2d Lieutenant, 


2d 


" 


Julius J. B. Kingsbury, 


1st 


2d 


" 


Marsena R. Patrick, 


Bvt. 2d Lieut. 


2d 


1836. 


Erastus B. Wolcott, 


Assist. Surgeon, Medical Department 


" 


James W. Anderson, 


2d Ijieutenant, 


2d Infantry. 


1839. 


Samuel McKenzie, 


Captain, 


2d Artillery. 


" 


Arnold E. Jones, 


2d Lieutenant, 


2d 


1840. 


Harvey Brown, 


Captain, 


4th " 


" 


John W. Phelps, 


1st Lieutenant, 


4th " 


" 


John C. Pemberton, 


2d 


4th " 


1841. 


Henry Holt, 


Assist. Surgeon, 


, Medical Department. 


<< 


Patrick H. Gait, 


Captain, 


4th Artillery. 


•« 


George C. Thomas, 


1st Lieutenant, 


4th 


« 


George W. Getty, 


2d 


4th 


t« 


Alexander Johnston, 


Captain, 


5th Infantry. 


« 


William Chapman, 


1st Lieutenant, 


5th 


« 


Spencer Norvell, 


2d 


5th 


i« 


Henry Whiting, 


2d 


5th 


<< 


John M. Jones, 


Bvt. 2d Lieut. 


5th 


1842. 


Rev. John O'Brien, 


Chaplain. 




" 


Martin Scott, 


Captain, 


5th 


1843. 


Levi H. Holden, 


Assist. Surgeon, Medical Department. 


i> 


Moses E. Merrill, 


Captain, 


5th Infantry. 


<< 


William Root, 


1st Lieutenant, 


5th 


•< 


John C. Robinson, 


2d 


5th 


1844. 


John Byrne, 


Assist. Surgeon, 


, Medical Department. 


1845. 


Charles C. Keeney, 


" 


" 


<( 


George C. Westcott, 


2d Lieutenant, 


2d Infantry. 


i< 


Silas Casey, 


Captain, 


2d 


M 


Joseph P. Smith, 


Bvt. 2d Lieut., 


5th " 


• t 


Fred Steele, 


" 


5th " 




* Died at Fort Mackinac, November 7, 1836. 



30 



ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 



1847. Frazey M. Winans, 
" Michael P. Doyle, 
" Morgan L. Gage, 

" Caleb F. Davis, 

" William P. Chittenden, 

1848. William N. R. BeaU, 
" Charles H. Larnard, 

' ' Hiram Dryer, 

1849. Joseph B. Brown, 
" Joseph L. Tidball, 

1850. Charles H. Laub, 

1851. David A. Russell, 

1852. Thomas Williams, 
" George W. Rains, 
" Jacob Culbertson, 
" Joseph H. Bailey, 

1854. Joseph B. Brown, 

1855. John H. Greland, 

1856. Edward P. Bagley, 
" William R. Terrill, 

" Joseph H. Wheelock, 
" John Byrne, 

1857. Arnold Elzey, 
" Henry Benson, 

" Quilford D. Bailey, 

1858. Henry C. Pratt, 

" Henry A. Smalley, 
" John P. Head, 

1859. William A. Hammond, 
George L. Hartsuff, 

1862. Grover S. Wormer, 
" Elias P. Sutton, 
" Louis Hartmayer, 
" James Knox, 
' ' Charles W. Le Boutillier, 

1866. Jerry N. Hill, 

" Washington L. Wood, 

1867. John Mitchell, 



Captain, 


15th Infantry. 


2d Lieutenant, 


15th " 


Captain, 


1st Mich. Vols. 


2d Lieutenant, 


1st 


2d 


1st 


Bvt. 2d Lieut., 


4th Infantry. 


Captain, 


4th 


2d Lieutenant, 


4th 


Assist. Surgeon, 


, Medical Department 


Bvt. 2d Lieut., 


4th Infantry. 


Assist. Surgeon 


, Medical Department. 


1st Lieutenant, 


4th Infantry. 


Captain, 


4th Artillery. 


1st Lieutenant, 


4th 


2d 


4th 


Captain, 


Medical Department. 


Assist. Surgeon. 


<i <( 


1st Lieutenant, 


4th Artillery. 


2d 


4th 


1st 


4th 


1st 


4th 


Assist. Svirgeon, Medical Department. 


Captain, 


2d Artillery. 


1st Lieutenant, 


2d 


2d 


2d 


Captain, 


2d 


2d Lieutenant, 


2d 


Captain, 


Medical Department. 


1st Lieutenant, 


2d Artillery. 


Captain, Stanton Guards, Mich. VoIb. 


1st Lieutenant 


<< << 


2d 


<< << 


Chaplain, 


Mich. Vols. 


Assist. Surgeon 


, 1st Minn. Inf y Vols. 


Captain, 


Vet. Res. Corps. 


2d Lieutenant, 


" " 


Captain, 


48d Infantry. 



UNITED STATES AKMT. 



31 



1867. 


Edwin C. Gaskill, 


1st Lieutenant, 


48d Infantry. 


" 


Julius Stommell, 


2d 


48d 


<• 


1869. 


Leslie Smith, 


Captain, 


1st 


<< 


<< 


John Leonard, 


1st Lieutenant, 


1st 


<i 


'< 


Matthew Markland, 


2d 


1st 


<< 


1870. 


• Samuel S. Jessop, 


Captain, 


Medical Department. 


1871. 


Thomas Sharp, 


1st Lieutenant, 


1st Infantry. 


1872. 


William M. Notson, 


Captain, 


Medical Department. 


1873. 


Carlos Carvallo, 


" 


" 


" 


1874. 


Charles J. Dickey, 


" 


22d Infantry. 


" 


John McA. Webster, 


2d Lieutenant, 


22d 


" 


" 


J. Victor De Hanne, 


Captain, 


Medical Department 


1875. 


Alfred L. Hough, 


Major, 


22d Infantry. 


1876. 


Joseph Bush. 


Captain, 


22d 




>< 


Thomas H. Fisher, 


1st Lieutenant, 


22d 




" 


Fielding L. Davies, 


2d 


22d 




1877. 


Charles A. Webb, 


Captain, 


22d 




" 


John Q. BaUance, 


2d Lieutenant, 


22d 




" 


Theodore Mosher, Jr., 


2d 


22d 




" 


Peter Moffat, 


Captain, 


Medical Department. 


1878. 


Oscar D. Ladley, 


1st Lieutenant, 


22d 


Infantry. 


1879. 


Edwin E. Sellers,* 
Charles L. Davis, 


Captain, 


10th 
10th 




" 


Dwight H. Kelton, 


1st Lieutenant, 


10th 




«• 


Walter T. Duggan, 


1st 


10th 




•« 


Bogardus Eldridge, 


2d 


10th 




<4 


Edward H. Plummer, 


2d 


10th 




" 


George W. Adair, 


Captain, 


Medical Department. 


1882. 


William H. Corbusier, 


" 


" 


•• 


1883. 


John Adams Perry, 


2d Lieutenant, 


10th 


Infantry. 


1884. 


George K. Brady, 
Greenleaf A. Goodale, 


Captain, 


23d 

23d 


,. 


" 


Edward B. Pratt, 


1st Lieutenant, 


23d 


t< 


<< 


Calvia D. Cowles, 


1st 


23d 


•< 


" 


J. Rozier Clagett, 


1st 


23d 


«< 


<i 


Stephen O'Connor, 


2d 


23d 


«< 


" 


Benjamin C. Morse, 


2d 


23d 


« 




•Died at Fort Macldnac, April 8, 1834. 





32 



ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 



1886. William C. Manning, 
" George B. Davis, 

1887. Charles E. Woodruff, 

1889. Harlan E. McVaJ^ 

1890. Jacob H. Smith, 
Charles T. Witherell, 
Edmund D. Smith, 
Zebulon B. Vance, Jr., 
Woodbridge Geary, 
Henry G. Learnard, 
Edwin M. Coates, 

1891. Alexander McC. Guard. 
" Joseph Frazier. 

1892. Edwin F. Gardner, 
18!);}. John Ilowarl, 

Junes Honaync. 
1894. C'arence E. Bcaiiutt. 



Captain, 


23d Infantry. 


2d Lieutenant, 


23d 


1st 


Medical Department 


1st 


" 


Captain, 


19th Infantry. 


" 


19th 


1st Lieutenant, 


19th 


2d 


lOtli 


2d 


19th 


2d 


19th 


Ma j or, 


19th 


Captain, 


19th 


2i Lieutenant, 


19th 


Captain, 


3Iedical Department 


2(1 Lieutenant, 


r.)th Infantry. 


2il 


lOih 


Major, 


10th 




THE "GRIFFON." 

The First Vessel on the Upper Lakes. 
Built by LaSalle, 1679. 




" WALK-IN-THE-WATER." 

First Steamboat on the Upper Lakes. Built in 1818. 
At Mackinac in 1819, 



INDIAN NAME. 37 



Indian Name. 



'Ye say, they all have passed away. 

That noble race and brave, 
That their light canoes have vanished 

From off the crested wave; 
That 'mid the forests where they roamed 

There rings no hunter's shout; 
But their name is on your waters, 

Ye may not wash them out." 



In the Chippewa or Ojibwa language, the name of 
Mackinac Ishind, is Mishinimdkina or Mishinimagina j 
in the locative case, Mishinimakinang, " at the great 
uplifted bow," "at the great hanging arch." Mishi-, 
"great," "grand;" mm-, nima-, "lifting up," "holding 
suspended at the top of something ; " (e. g., nimakonige, 
" he carries something on a stick ; " nimashkaigan, " a 
ttift," "a plume," "a bayonet;" Cree nimaskwsin, "he 
is raised above the ground;" nimaskwew, "he carries his 
weapons;" nimahview, "he raises his hand against him;") 
ivagina, Cree wakina, (from wak-, wag-^ " bent," and a 
substantive ending;) "a semi-circle," "a piece of wood 
bent in the form of a bow," "rib of a canoe," "ground 
timber of a vessel. The initial w is dropped, as is usual 
in compounds {e. g.^ gimdbi, "he looks stealthily;" waba- 
higan^ "clay;" missahexij.akon, "tree-moss;" instead of 
gimioabi, wdbwdbigan^ and missahenjioakon). 



38 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

The gesture for nim-^ is the outstretched arm and 
hand, with the pahn downward. 

The greatest natural curiosity on Mackinac Island is 
the " arch rock." It would, then, be rather an excep-. 
tional case, if the Indian name-givers, with their keen 
sense of the beautiful, and admiration for the extraordi- 
nary in nature, had not seized upon this feature of the 
island, to distinguish it from all other localities known to 
them. Still, the meaning of the term is utterly unknown 
to the Indians of the present day. The whites, too, have 
invariably failed in analyzing and explaining the word ; 
chiefly, perhaps, in consequence of the fault}' division, — 
Michili Makinac^ or Michilli Mackinaw, — introduced 
by French and English writers, — and the greater hardness 
with which the k is now generally pronounced, in that 
name. 



Criticism of popular interpretations. 

1. Big Turtle. This rendering would agree well 
with an Indian legend, according to which the Island of 
Mackinac, a Manitou, in the shape of an immense turtle, 
rose from the depths of the lake in the sight ' of the 
wondering natives, and was finally clianged into its pres- 
ent form. Moreover, it is said that Menabosho, the 
maker of a new worlds was born on the Island of Mack- 
inac. If, then, its name signified "big turtle," this Indian 
legend would furnish an interesting counterpart to the 
well-known concept of Asiatic cosmogony, according to 
which the world rests on a giant turtle. That the idea 
is not quite foreign to the Indian mind, ajipears from tlio 
legends of the Lendpe and other tribes. 

Etymologically, however, there is little in favor of this 



INDIAN NAME. 



39 



interpretation. "Big turtle" would be mishimiMnah, in 
the locative case, mishimiJcinaJcong; while the name of 
the island is mishinimaUna, in the locative mishinimaU- 
nang. The syllable ni must be accounted for. There 
are, it is true, words in which ni is affixed to mishi- ; 
buf this changes its meaning from "large" to "many," 
as, e. g.^ in mishinogade, "it has many feet;" mishinoni- 
kaso, "he has many names;" mishinad, "there is much 
of it." This is the chief difficulty, though even the 
change from mikinak to makina should not be admitted 
without pressing necessity. 

2. Island of the Giant Fairies. In a certain 
sense, this interpretation may be accepted. The Ojibwa 
and Ottawa speak of a race of people who are never 
seen, though occasionally heard firing guns in the woods, 
— a sort of Indian fairies; and these, — whether giants 
or dwarfs, no one knows, — they call Mishinimakinagog 
(the plural of Mishinimakinago). But this name is evi 
dently derived from Mishinimakina (as Winihigo from 
Winibi), and simply means "Mishinimakina people;" thus 
leaving the term in question etymologically unexplained. 

Historically, a tribe or clan named after the island, 
existed until some time after the arrival of the French 
upon the Great Lakes; and the few who were still living 
at that period, asserted that they counted thirty towns, 
and that they had all enclosed themselves in a fort meas- 
uring one and one-half leagues in circumference, when 
the Iroquois came to defeat them, elated as they were by 
a victory they had gained over three thousand men of 
-the tribe (of Mishinimakina) who had carried the war 
into the very conutry of the Mohawks. The name of 



40 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

this boastful claa would, then, after their extinction, seem 
to have passed into that of Indian forest fairies. 

An Ojibwa translation of "Island of the Giant Fairies" 
would be Windigominlss or Mindbeminisa. 

3. Island of the Dancing Fairies. "This 
explanation apparently rests on the presence of the syl- 
lable nim, in the name of the island. Mishi-, "great;" 
nimi, " he dances ; " aki, " land ; " hence mishinimaki, 
or rather misfmiimiwaki {raishinimiidiwaki would be 
still better), "great dancing land." This appears plausible 
enough, at first sight, but it will not bear a closer exam- 
ination. 

The first suspicious circumstance is the absence of any 
tradition as to the fact (apparently implied in this et}-- 
mology) that the island once served as a meeting place 
for Indian dancers. Next, the7'e is no inatance of the 
word a^•^, " land," being used, instead of miniss^ in com- 
pounding the name of an island. Finally, the superfluous 
ending -na, is not accounted for. 



"Ye say, their cone -like cabins, 

That clustered o'er the vale, 
Have fled away like withered leaves 

Before ilie autumn gale; 
But their memory liveth on your hills 

Their baptism on your shore, 
Your everlasting rivers spoak 

Their dialect of yore." 



ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 4:1 



NATIONAL PARK— ISLAND OF MACKINAC. 

On March 11th, 1873, Hon. T. W. Ferry, Senator from 
Michigan, introduced in the Senate the following : 

Besolved, That so much of the Island of Mackinac, lying in the Straits 
of Mackinac, within the County of Mackinac, in the State of Michigan, 
as is now held by the United States under military reservation or other- 
wise (excepting the Fort Mackinac and so much of the present reservation 
thereof as bounds it to the south of the village of Mackinac, and to the 
west, north and east respectively by lines drawn north and south, east 
and west, at a distance from the pi'esent fort flag-staff of four hundred 
yards), hereby is reserved and withdrawn from settlement, occupancy, 
or sale under the laws of the United States, and dedicated and set apart 
as a National public park, or grounds, for health, comfort and pleasure, 
for the benefit and enjoyment of the people; and all persons who shall 
locate or settle upon or occupy the same, or any part thereof, except as 
herein provided, shall be considered trespassers, and removed therefrom. 

That said public park shall be under the exclusive control of the Sec" 
retary of War, whose duty it shall be, as soon as practicable, to make 
and publish such rules and regulations as he may deem necessary or 
proper for the care and management of the same. Such regulations 
shall provide for the preservation from injury or spoliation of all timber, 
mineral deposits, natural curiosities, or wonders within said park, and 
their retention in their natural condition. The Secretary may, in his 
discretion, grant leases, for building purposes, of small parcels of ground, 
at such places in said park as shall require the erection of buildings for 
the accommodation of visitors, for terms not exceeding ten years ; all of 
the proceeds of said leases, and all other revenues derived from any 
source connected with said park, to be expended under his direction, in 
the management of the same and in the construction of roads and bridle- 
paths therein. He shall provide against the wanton destruction of game 
or fish found within said park, and against their capture or destruction 
for any purposes of use or profit. He also shall cause all persons tres- 
passing upon the same, after the passage of this act, to be removed there- 
from, and generally shall be authorized to take all such measures as shall 



42 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

be necessary or proper to fullj'^ carry out the objects and purposes of this 
act. 

That any part of the park hereby created shall at all times be available 
for military purposes, either as a parade or drill ground, in time of peace, 
or for complete occupation in time of war, or whenever war is expected, 
and may also be used for the erection of any public buildings or works: 
Provided, That no per.-on shall ever claim or receive of the United States 
any damage on account of any future amendment or repeal of this act, 
or the taking of said park, or any part thereof, for public purposes or use. 

Senator Ferr}' did not forget his work or neglect his oppor- 
tunities, and oti March 3d, 1875, after a two years' struggle, 
he finally procured the passage of the Act for the Mackinac 
National Park. His regard for this spot — his birthplace and 
boyhood home — led him to advocate his park bill at all times 
and places, until his fellow-members dubbed it " Ferry's 
Park." 



The following are the approved Rules and Regulations for 
the Park at Mackinac : 

I. Mackinac Park will be under the immediate control and manage- 
ment of the comraanding-offlcer of Fort Mackinac, who is charged with 
the duty of preserving order, protecting the public property therein, and 
enforcing these rules. 

II. All tenants renting under the Act of Congress providing therefor 
must conform to, and abide by, such rules and regulations as are pre- 
scribed for the care of the park, and will be held responsible for a com- 
pliance with the same on the part of the members of their families, their 
agents and employes. 

III. The sale of wines and malt or spirituous liquors on the park, 
without special authority from the commanding-officer of Fort Mackinac, 
or higher military authority, is prohibited. 

IV. No person shall put cattle, swine, horses or other animals on the 
park, except as follows: 

The cows belonging to the residents of the Island of Mackinac may be 
placed in a herd, under the care of a herder, and be permitted to graze in 



NATIONAL PARK. 43 

such parts of the park as may be designated by the commanding-offlcer 
of Fort Mackinac. 

V. Racing or riding and driving at great speed is prohibited. 

VI. No person shall indulge in any threatening, abusive, insulting or 
indecent language in the park. 

VII. No person shall commit any obscene or indecent act in the park. 

VIII. No frays, quarrels, or disorders of any kind will be permitted 
in the park. 

IX. No person shall carry or discharge fire-arms in the park. 

X. No person shall injure or deface the trees, shrubs, turf, natural 
curiosities, or any of the buildings, fences, bridges or other structures 
within the park. 

XI. No person shall injure, deface or destroy any notices, rules or 
regulations for the government of the park, posted, or in any other man : 
aer permanently fixed, by order or permission of the authorities of the 
park. 

XII. No person shall wantonly destroy any game or fish within the 
park, nor capture nor destroy the same for any purposes of use or profit 

XIII. Any person wlio shall violate any of these Rules and Regula- 
tions shall be ejected from the park by military authority, and in case 
the person so offending shall have committed any offence in violation of 
any of the statutes of the United States, or of the State of Michigan, 
the offender shall be proceeded against before the United States or State 
courts, according to the laws providing for the same. 

XIV. The commanding-offlcer of Fort Mackinac may, at any lime, 
add to or modify these Rules, subject to the approval of the Secretary of 
War. 

When the Park was surveyed, lots were set apart for build- 
ing purposes in the following places: on the bluff near 
" Robertson's Folly ; " on the bluff on the northwest side of 
the island, and on the bluff extending from the old Indian 
burying-ground along by " Pontiac's Lookout." 

The price of the leases for Park lots has been fixed at ten, 
fifteen and twenty-five dollars per year, according to the 
location. 



44 



ANNALS OF FOKT 31AGIi.LNA0. 




Stone Officers' Quarters, Built 1782. 



PKIE8T8. 45 



PRIESTS. 

The following Priests of the Roman Catholic Church hare 
aerved at Michiliraackinac : 

The dates opposite their names indicate the first and last 
year of their stay ; or, as the case may be, of their visits ; 
for many of them made only occasional visits, having other 
parishes, or missions, in their charge. Their names are 
marked thus *. 

The first church on the main land, north of the Strait, 
was built in 1671 ; the second about 1674: ; burnt in 1706. 

The present church was built in 1838. 

The first church on the main land, south of the Strait, was 
built about 1712, when the post was re-established ; the 
second, about 1741. 

The first church on the island was erected in 1780. It 
occupied a part of the old cemetery on Astor street. The 
second was erected in 1827, on the site of the present one, 
on land donated by Mrs. Magdalene Laframboise. 

The present building was erected in 1873. 

Beneath the altar are the graves of Mrs. Magdalene 
Laframboise, her only daughter, and grandson, Langdon 
Pierce (wife and son of Capt. Benjamin K. Pierce, U. S. A.). 
On the marble slabs over their graves are the following 
inscriptions : 

"Magdalene Laframboise, died April 14th, 1846, aged 66 years." 
" Josephine Pierce, died November 34th. 1820." 

In "Ancient Mighiltmaokinao " (St. Ignace). 

WTO. Rev. Father Dablon, S. J. (or possibly Marquette.) 

1671-78. Rev, Father James Marquette, S. J. 
1678 (?) Rev. Father Philip Pierson, S. J. 



46 



A^^NALS OF FOKT MACKINAC. 



1674 (?) Rev. Father Henry Nouvel, S. J. 

1677 (?) Rev. Father J. Enjahan, S. J. 

1680-81. Rev. Father Louis Hennepin. Franciscan.* 

16?? (?) Rev. Father De Carheil, S. J. 

16??-1706. Rev. Father J. Marest, S. J. 

In " Old Mackinac " (Lowee Michigan). 

1708 (?) Rev. Father J. Marest, S. J. 

1741-62. Rev. Father J. B. Lamorinie, S. J.* 

1741-65. Rev. Father Du Jaunay, S. J. 

1743-44. Rev. Father C. G. Coquarz, S. J* 

1753-61. Rev. Father M. L. Lefranc. S. J. 

1768-76. Rev. Father Gibault, Vic. -Gen. of Illinois.* 



On the Island and in Modeen St. Ignaok. 

1786-«7. Rev. Father Payet, of Illinois.* 

1794. Rev. Father Ledru, Dominican, of France.* 

1796. Rev. Father Levadonx, of Detroit, Vic. -Gen. of the Bishop 

of Baltimore.* 
1799-1828. Rev. Father G. Richard, Curate of St. Ann, Detroit, and 

Vicar-General.* 
1801. Rev. Father J. Dilhet.* 

1816-18. Rev. Father Joseph Crevier, of Canada.* 
1825-37. Rev. Father Francis Vincent Badin of St. Joseph's.* 
1837-30. Rev. P. J. De Jean, of Little Traverse Bay.* 
1829-31. Rt. Rev. Edward Fenwick, Bishop of Cincinnati* 
1830. Rev. Father Mallon, of Cincinnati. 

1880-88. Rev. Father Samuel Mazzuchelli, Dominican. 
1880-58. Rev. Father Frederic Rese, Vic. -Gen. of Cincinnati. Bishop 

of Detroit, 1834.* 
1881-66. Rev. Father Frederic Baraga, of Little Traverse Bay. 

Afterwards (1853-68) Bishop of Sault Ste. Marie and 

Marquette.* 
1833. Rev. Father J. Lostrie. 

1833-34. Rev. Father Francis Hatscher, Hedemptorist 
1838-43. Rev. Father Santi Santelli. 



PKIE8T8. 



47 



188+-38. Rev. Father F, J. Bonduel, 

1843-45. Rev. Father C. Skolla, Franciscan. 

1845. Rev. Father H. Van Renterghem. 

1845-52. Rt. Rev. P. Lefevre, Bishop of Detroit.* 

1846-74. Rev. Father A. D. Piret, retired to " Chenaux," 1870. 

1852. Rev. Father Francis Pierz, of Little Traverse Bay.* 

1854-57. Rev. Father E. L. M. Jahan. 

1858-61. Rev. Father Patrick B. Murray. 

1861-67. Rev. Father Henry L. Thiele (two terms). 

1868. Rev. Father Charles Magne. 

1868-71. Rev. Father Matthias Orth. 

1869-70. Rev. Father Philip S. Zorn, of Grand Traverse Bay.* 

1870-71. Rev. Father Nicolas L. Sifferath, of Cross Village.* 

1871. Rev. Father Charles Vary, S. J., of Sault Ste. Marie.* 

1871-79. Rt. Rev. Ignatius Mrak, Bishop of Marquette.* 

1871-72. Rev. Father L. B. Lebouc. 

1872-73. Rev. Father Moses Mainville. 

1873-80. Rev. Father Edward Jacker. 

1875-78. Rev. Father William Dwyer. 

1878-79. Rev. Father John Braun. 

1879-81. Rev. Father John C. Kenny. 

1880-81. Rev. Father C. A. Richard. 

1880-82. Rt. Rev. John Vertin, Bishop of Marquette.* 

1881. Rev. Father Bonaveuture Frey, Prov. Cap. Order.* 

1881-82. Rev. Father Kilian Haas, O. M. Cap. 

1881-83. Rev. Father Isidore Handtmann, O. M. Cap. 

1882-85. Kev. Father John Chebul. 

1883. Rev. Father Joseph Niebling. 

188:3-84. Rev. Father P. Q. Tobin. 

1884-87. Rev. Father William Dwyer. 

1885-86. Rev. Father Francis Xav. Becker. 



48 



ANNALS OF FOBT MACKINAC. 



COLLECTORS OF CUSTOMS, AT MACKINAC. 



1801-6 David Duncan. 1843-49 

1806-10 George Hoffman, 1849-53 

181U Harris H. Hickman. 1853-55 

1810-15 Samuel Abbott. 1855-61 

1815-16 William Gamble. 1861-67 

1816-18 John Rogers. 1867-71 

1818-33 Adam D. Stewart. 1871- 

1833-43 Abraham Wendell. 



Samuel K. Haring. 
Charles E. Avery. 
Alexander Toll. 
Jacob A. T. Wendell. 
John W. McMath. 
S. Henry Lasley. 
James Lasley, 



Nj 



INDIAN AGENTS. 



Agents for Mackinac and 

1816-24 Wm. H. Puthufp. 1861-65 

1824-33 George Boyd. 1865-69 

1833-41 Henry R. Schoolcraft. 1869 

1841-45 Robert Stuart. 1869-71 

1845-49 Wm. A. Richmond, 1871 

1849-51 Chas p. Babcock. 1871-76^ 

1851-53 Rev, Wm. Sprague. 1876-82 

1853-57 Henky C. Gilbert. 1883-85 

1857-61 Andrew M. Fitch. 1885- 



Vicinity: 

D. C. Leach. 
Richard M. S.mith. 
Wm. H. Bhockway. 
James W. Long. 
Richard M. Smith. 
George \. Betts. 
George W. Lee. 
Edward P. Allen. 
Mark W. Stevens. 



MACKINAC COUNTY, PROBATE COURT JUDGES. 



1823-25 William H. Puthuff. 1860-65 

1825-29 Jonathan N Bailey. 1865 

1829-33 B. Hoffman. 1866-73 

1833-40 Michael Dousman, 1873-77 

1840-44 Bela Chapman. 1877-79 

1844-48 William Johnson. 1879-81 

1848-53 Bela Chapman. 1881-85 

1853-60 Jonathan P. King. 1885- 



Bela Chapman. 
Alexander Toll. 
Bela Chapman. 
George C. Ketchum. 
George T. Wendell. 
Benoni Lachance. 
Thomas Chambers. 
Peter N. Packard, 



VILLAGE OFFICERS. 



49 



MACKINAC VILLAGE, PEESIDENTS. 



Wardens or Presidents of the Bvough or 
incorporation in 



Village of Mackinac, since its 
1817: 

Bela Chapman. 
Augustus Todd. 
Jonathan P. King. 
John B. Couchois. 
John Becker. 
Wm. Madison. 
Dr. John R. Bailey. 
Edwin C. Gaskill. 
Wm. p. Preston. 
Horace A. N. Todd. 
Wm. p. Preston. 
William Sullivan. 
Wm. B. Preston. 



POSTMASTEES. 

PostmOfSters at Mackinac since the establishment of the Post Office in 1819: 
Th£ Office was known as Michilimackinac, until 1825. 



1817-31 


Wm. H. Puthuff. 


1849 


1832 


George Boyd. 


1850-55 


1833 


Wm. H. Puthuff. 


1856 


1834-35 


Michael Dousman. 


1861 


1836 


Jonathan N. Bailey. 


1873 


1837-30 


Samuel Abbott. 


1873 


1831 


Edward Biddlb. 


1875 


1833-43 


Samuel Abb'jtt. 


1875-76 


1844 


Edward Biddle. 


1877-81 


1845 


Samuel Abbott. 


1883 


1845 


Abraham Wendell. 


1883-84 


1846 


Bela Chapman. 


1885 


1848 


Augustus Todd. 


1886- 



1819-38 Adam D. Stewart. 1861-66 

1833-35 John W. Mason. 1866-67 

1835-39 Jonathan N. Bailey.* 1867-77 

1839-49 Jonathan P. King. 1877-80 

1849-53 James H. Cook. 1880-85 

1853-59 Jonathan P. King. 1885- 

1859-61 John Biddle. 



James Lasley. 
John Becker. 
James Lasley. 
George C. Ketchum. 
James Lasley. 
James Gallagher, 



*First Postmaster at Chicago. Appointed March 31st, 18-31. 

The first post-offlce on this side of the Atlantic was established by 
Gov. Lovelace, at New York, in 1673. 

MACKINAC COUNTY, CLERKS. 

Clerks of the County from its organization in 1818: 



1818-31 


Thomas Lyon. 


1855-58 


JoHN Becker. 


1833-34 


P. Hinchman. 


1859-63 


Wm. M. Johnston. 


1835-46 


Jonathan P. King. 


1864 


Charles O'Mallet, 


1847-53 


P. C. Kevan. 


1865-86 


John Biddle. 


1853-54 


Wm. M. Johnston. 


1886- 


Michael Hobau. 



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[50] 



AMEKICAif FUR COMPANY. 51 



THE AMERICAN FUR COMPANY. 

To notice slightly the origin of the American Fur Com 
pany, we will say that John Jacob Astor, a German by birth, 
who arrived in New York in the year 1784, commenced 
work for a bakery owned by a German acquaintance. He 
was afterwards assisted to open a toy shop, and this was fol- 
lowed by trafficking for small parcels of furs in the country 
towns, and which led to his future operations in that line. 

Mr. Astor's great and continued success in that branch of 
trade induced him, in 1809, to obtain from the New York 
Legislature a charter incorporating "The American Fur 
Company," with a capital of a million dollars. It is under- 
stood that Mr. Astor comprised the company, though other 
names were used in its organization. In 1811, Mr. Astor, 
in connection with certain partners of the old Northwest 
Fur Company (whose beginning was in 1783, and perma- 
nently organized in 1787), bought out the association of 
British merchants known as the Mackinac Company, then a 
strong competitor in the fur trade. This Mackinac Com- 
pany, with the American Fur Company, was merged into a 
new association called the Southwest Fur Company. But in 
1815, Mr. Astor bought out the Southwest Company, and the 
American Fur Company came again to the front. In the 
winter of 1815-16, Congress, through the influence of Mr. 
Astor, it is understood, passed an act excluding foreigners 
from participating in the Indian trade. In 1817-18, the 
American Fur Company brought a large number of clerks 
from Montreal and the United States to Mackinac, some of 
whom made good Indian traders, while many others failed 
upon trial and were discharged. Among those who proved 
their capability was Gurdon S, Hubbard, Esq., then a youth 



52 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC.^ 

of sixteen, later, oue of the early settlers of Chicago. He 
was born in Windsor, Vt, in 1802, his parents were Elizur 
and Abigail (Sage) Hubbard. His paternal "emigrant" 
ancestor was George Hubbard, who was at Wethersfield, Ct., 
in 1636. Mr. Hubbard was also a lineal descendant of the 
clei'g^anan-governor Gurdon Saltonstall (named for Bramp- 
ton Gurdon, the patriot M. P., whose daughter was the grand- 
mother of the governor), who was the great-grandson of Sir 
Richard Saltonstall, a firm and efficient friend of early New 
England. 

Mr. Hubbard left Montreal, where his parents thou lived. 
May 13, 1818, reaching Mackinac July 4th, and arrived at 
Chicago on the first day of November of that year. In 182S, 
he purchased of the Fur Company their entire interest in 
the trade of Illinois. Mr. Hubbard died at his home in 
Chicago, September 14, 1886. 

Having entire charge of the management of the company in the West, 
wore Ramsey Crooks and Robert Stuart. To William Matthews was 
intrusted the engaging of voyageurs and clerks in Canada, with his head- 
quarters in Montreal. The voyageurs he took from the habitants (farmers) ; 
young, active, athletic men were sought for, indeed, none but such were 
engaged, and they passed under inspection of a surgeon. Mr. M. also 
purchased at Montreal such goods as were suited for the trade, to load his 
boats. These boats were the Canadian batieaux, principally used in those 
days in transferring goods to upper St. Lawrence River and its tributaries, 
manned by four oarsmen and a steersman, capacity about six tons. The 
voyageurs and clerks were under indentures for a term of five years. 
Wages of voyageurs, $100, clerks from $120 to $500 per annum. These 
were all novices in the business; the plan of the company was to arrange 
and secure the services of old traders and their voyageurs, who, at the 
(now) organization of the company were in the Indian country, depending 
on their influence and knowledge of the trade with the Indians; and as 
fast as possible secure the vast trade in the West and Northwest, within 
the district of the United States, interspersing the novices brought from 
Canada so as to consolidate, extend and monopolize, as far as possible, 
over the country, the Indian trade. The first two years they had sue- 



AMEKICAN FUR COMPANY. 



53 



ceeded in bringing into tlieir employ seven-eighths of the old ludiar 
traders on the Upper Mississippi, Wabash and Illinois Rivers, Lake; 
Michigan and Superior, and their tributaries as far north as the bound- 
aries of the United States extended. The other eighth thought that their 
interest was to remain independent; toward such, the company selected 
their best traders, and located them in opposition, with instructions so to 
manage by underselling to bring them to terms. 




Block House Built in 1780. 



At Mackinac, the trader's brigades were organized, the company select- 
ing the most capable trader to be the manager of his particular brigade, 
which consisted of from five to twenty batteaux, laden with goods. This 
chief or manager, when reaching the country allotted to him, made 
detachments, locating trading-houses, Avith districts clearly defined, for 
the operations of that particular post, and so on, until his ground was fully 
occupied by traders under him, over whom he had absolute authority. 

We will here allude to Mr. Aster's attempt to establish an 
American emporium for the fur trade at the mouth of the 



54' ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

Columbia River, which enterprise failed, through the capture 
of Astoria bj the British in 1814, and the neglect of our 
government to give him protection. The withdrawal of Mr. 
Astor from the Pacific coast, left the Northwest Fur Com- 
pany to consider themselves the lords of the country. They 
did not long enjoy the field unmolested, however. A fierce 
competition ensued between them and their old rivals, the 
Hudson's Bay Company, which was carried on at great cost 
and sacrifice, and, occasionally, with the loss of life. It 
ended in the ruin of most of the partners of the Northwest 
Company, and merging of the relics of that establishment, 
in 1821, in the rival association. 

Ramsey Crooks was a foremost man in the employ of Mr. Astor in the 
fur trade, not only in the east, but upon the western coast, and has been 
called ' ' the adventurous Rocky Mountain trader. " Intimately connected, 
as Mr. Crooks was, with the American Fur Company, a slight notice of 
him will not be out of place. Mr. Crooks was a native of Greenock, 
Scotland, and was employed as a trader in Wisconsin, as early as 1806. 
He entered the service of Mr. Astor in 1809. In 1818, he returned from 
his three years' journey to the western coast, and in 1817 he joined Mr. 
Astor as a partner, and for four or five years ensuing he was the company's 
Mackinac agent, though residing mostly in New York. Mr. Crooks con- 
tinued a partner until 1830, when this connection was dissolved and he 
lesumed his place with Mr. Astor in his former capacity. In 1884. Mr. 
Astor, being advanced in years, sold out the stock of the company, and 
transferred the charter to Ramsey Crooks and his associates, whereupon 
Mr. C. was elected president of the company. Reverses, however, com- 
pelled an assignment in 1842, and with it the death of the American Fur 
Company. In 1845. Mr. Crooks opened a cnmmi«;sinn house for the sale 
of furs and skins, in New York City. This business, which was success- 
ful. IMr. C. continued until his death. Mr. Crooks died in New York, 
June 6, 1859, in his 73d year. Mr. Astor died in 1848. 

Washington Irving, in his "Astoria," gives a graphic 
account of the occasional meetings of the partners, agents 
and employes of the old Northwest Fur Company, at Mont- 



AMERICAN FUR COMPANY. 



55 



real and Fort William, where tliey kept high days and nights 
of wassail and feasting ; of song and tales of adventure and 
bair-breadth escapes. But of those lavish and merry halls 
of the old "Northwest," we need suggest no comparison 
with the agency dwelling of the American Fur Company at 
Mackinac, where the expenses charged for the year 1821 
were only $678.1:9. In that account, however, we notice the 
following entries : "31^ gallons Teneriffe Wine, 4-J gallons 



Port Wine ; 10 gallons best Madeira ; T0|- gallons 
Wine ; 9 gallons Brandy ; and one 'barrel of flour." 



Red 




LEGEND OF "ROBERTSON'S FOLLY." 



Captain Robertson was a gay young English officer and 
a great admirer of the ladies. One pleasant summer even- 
ing, as he was strolling in the woods at the back of the fort 
enjoying his pipe, he suddenly beheld, a few rods before 
him and just crossing his path, a female of most exquisite 
form, feature and complexion ; she seemed about nineteen ; 
was simply dressed ; wore her long black hair in flowing 
tresses ; and as for a moment she turned on him her lustrous 
black eyes, her whole countenance lighting up with anima- 
tion, the gallant captain thought he had never before seen 
BO beautiful a creature. He politely doffed his cap and 
quickened his steps, hoping to engage her in conversation. 
She likewise hastened, evidently with the design of escaping 
him. Presently she disappeared around a curve in the road, 
and Robertson lost sight of her. 

At the officers' quarters that night nothing was talked of 
but the young lady and her possible identity. She was 
clearly not a native, and no vessel had been known to touch 
at the island for many a week. Who could she be ? Cap- 
tain Robertson could hardly sleep that night. A rigid 
inquiry was instituted in the village. The only effect was 
to engender as intense curiosi-ty in the town as already 
existed among the garrison. 

As the shades of evening drew near, the captain was again 
walking in the pleasant groves enjoying the delightful lake 
breezes and the whiff of his favorite pipe. He was think- 
ing of last evening's apparition, and blaming himself for 
not pressing on more vigorously, or at least calling to the 



58 ANNALS OF FOKT MACKINAC. 

fair spectre. At this moment, raising his eyes from the 
ground, there she was again, slowly preceding him at a dis- 
tance of scarcely more than thirty yards. As soon as his 
astonishment would permit, and as speedily as he could 
frau)e an excuse, he called to her : " Mademoiselle, I — I beg 
your pardon." 

She turned on him one glance, her face radiant with smiles, 
then redoubled her pace. The captain redoubled his, and 
soon broke into a run. Still she kept the interval between 
them undiminished. A bend of the road, and again she was 
gone. The captain sought her quickly, but in vain ; he then 
rushed back to the fort and called out a general posse of 
officers and men to scour the island, and, by capturing the 
maiden to solve the mystery. Though the search was kept 
up till a late hour in the night, not a trace could be found 
of her. The captain now began to be laughed at, and jokes 
were freely bandied at his expense. 

Two days passed away, and the fantasy of Captain Robert- 
son began to be forgotten by his brother officers, but the 
captain himself maintained a gloomy, thoughtful mood — the 
truth is he was in love with the woman he had only twice 
seen, and who he felt assured was somewhere secreted on 
the island. Plans for her discovery revolved in his brain 
day and night, and visions of romance and happiness were 
ever ffitting before his eyes. It was on the evening of the 
second day that he was irresistibly led to walk again in the 
shady path in which the appai:ition had twice appeared to him. 
It led to the brow of the precipice at the southeastern corner 
of the island. He had nearly reached the famous point 
from which we now look down perpendicularly 128 feet into 
the placid waters of Lake Huron, when, sitting on a large 
stone, apparently enjoying the magnificent scene spread out 
before her, he discovered the object of his solicitude. Escape 
from him was now impossible, silently he stole up to her. 



Robertson's folly. 59 

A cruncliing of the gravel under his feet, however, disturbed 
her, and turning, her eyes met his. 

" Pretty maiden, why thus attempt to elude me ? "Who 
are you ? " There was no answer, but the lady arose from 
the rock and retreated nearer the brink of the precipice, at 
the same time glancing to the right and left, as if seeking a 
loop-hole of escape. 

" Do not fear me," said the captain, " I am commander of 
the garrison at the fort here. No harm shall come to you, 
but do pray tell me who you are, and how you came on this 
island ! " 

The lady still maintained a stolid silence, but in the fading 
light looked more beautiful than ever. She was now stand- 
ing within three feet of the brink with her back to the 
terrible abyss. The captain shuddered at the thought of her 
tnakmg an unguarded step and being dashed to pieces on 
the rocks below. So he tried to calm her fears lest, in her 
agitation, she might precipitate a terrible catastrophe. 

" My dear young lady," he began, " I see you fear me, 
and 1 will leave you ; but for heaven's sake do pray tell me 
your name and where you reside. Not a hair of your head 
shall be harmed, but Captain Kobertson, your devoted ser- 
vant, will go through fire and water to do your commands. 
Once more, my dear girl, do speak to me, if but a word 
before we part." 

A.S the captain warmed up in his address, he incautiously 
advanced a step. The girl retreated another step, and now 
stood where the slightest loss of balance must prove her 
death. 

Quick as thought, the captain sprang forward to seize her 
and avert so terrible a tragedy, but just as he clutched her 
arm, she threw herself backward into the chasm, drawing 
her tormentor and would-be savior with her, and both were 
instantly dashed on to the rocks below. 



60 



ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 



His mangled remains were found at the foot of the preci- 
pice, but, singiilar as it may seem, not a vestige could be 
found of the woman for whose life his own had been sacri- 
ficed. His body alone could be discovered and it was taken 
up and buried in a shady nook near the middle of the island. 
He was long mourned by his men and brotlier officers, for 
he was much beloved for his high social qualities and genial 
deportment ; but by and by it began to be whispered that 
the captain had indulged too freely in the fine old French 
brandy that the fur traders brought up from Montreal, and 
that the lady he professed to see was a mere ignis fatuus of 
his own excited imagination. But the mantle of charity 
has been thrown over the tragedy, and a commonplace 
explanation given for the name the rocky point has acquired, 
of " Robertson's Folly." 




LEGEND OF "LOVER'S LEAP." 



Many years ago, there lived a v^arrior on this island whose 
name was Wawanosh. He was the chief of an ancient 
family of his tribe, who had preserved the line of chieftain- 
ship unbroken from a remote time, and he consequently 
cherished a pride of ancestry. To the reputation of birth 
he added the advantages of a tall and commanding person, 
and the dazzling qualities of personal strength, courage and 
activity. His bow was noted for its size, and the feats he 
had performed with it. His counsel was sought as much as 
his strength was feared, so that he came to be equally 
regarded as a hunter, a warrior and a counsellor. 

Such was Wawanosh, to whom the united voice of the 
nation awarded the first place in their esteem, and the highest 
authority in council. But distinction, it seems, is apt to 
engender haughtiness in the hunter state as well as civilized 
life. Pride was his ruling passion, and he clung with ten- 
acity to the distinctions which he regarded as an inheritance. 

Wawanosh had an only daughter, who had now lived to 
witness the budding of the leaves of the eighteenth spring. 
Her father was not moie celebrated for his deeds of strength 
than she for her gentle virtues, her slender form, her full, 
beaming Jiazel eyes, and her dark and flowing hair. 

Her hand was sought by a young man of humble parent- 
age, who had no other merits to recommend him but such as 
might arise from a tall and commanding person, a manly 
step, and an eye beaming with the tropical fires of youth and 
love. These were suflficient to attract the favorable notice 

[Cl] 



62 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

of the daughter, but, were by no means satisfactory to the 
father, who sought an alliance more suitable to the rank and 
the high pretensions of liis family. 

"Listen to me, young man," he replied to the trembling 
hunter, who had sought the interview, " and be attentive to 
my words. You ask me to bestow upon you my daughter, 
the chief solace of my age, and my choicest gift from the 
Master of Life. Others have asked of me this boon, who 
were as young, as active and as ardent as yourself. Some of 
these persons have had better claims to become my son-in- 
law. Have you reflected upon the deeds which have raised 
me in authority, and made my name known to the enemies 
of my nation ? AVhere is there a chief who is not proud to 
be considered the friend of Wawanosh ? Where, in all the 
land, is there a hunter who Jias excelled AVawanosh? Where 
is there a warrior who can boast the taking of an equal num- 
ber of scalps? Besides, have you not heard that my fathers 
came from the East, bearing the marks of chieftaincy ?" 

"And what, young man, have you to boast? Have you 
ever met your enemies in the held of battle? Have j^ow 
ever brought home a trophy of victory ? Have you ever 
proved your fortitude by suffering protracted pain, enduring 
continued hunger, or sustaining great fatigue? Is your 
name known beyond the humble limits of your native vil- 
lage? Go, then, young man, and earn a name for yourself. 
It is none but the brave that can ever hope to claim an 
alliance with the house of Wawanosh." 

The intimidated lover departed, but he resolved to do a 
deed that should render him worthy of the daughter of 
Wawanosh, or die in the attempt. He called together 
several of his young companions and equals in years, and 
imparted to them his design of conducting an expedition 
against the enemy, and requested their assistance. Several 
embraced the proposal immediately ; and, before ten suns 



LEGEND OF " LOVEB" S LEAP." 63 

set. he saw himself at the head of a formidable party of 
young warriors, all eager, like himself, to distinguish them- 
selves in battle. Each warrior was armed, according to the 
custom of the period, with a bow and a quiver of arrows, 
tipped with flint or jasper. He carried a sack or wallet, 
provided with a small quantity of parched and pounded 
corn, mixed with pemmican or maple-sugar. He was fur- 
nished with a Puggamaugun, or war-club of hard wood, 
fastened to a girdle of deerskin, and a stone or copper knife. 
In addition to this, some carried the ancient sheinagun, or 
lance, a smooth pole about a fathom in length, with a javelin 
of flint firmly tied on with deer's sinews. Thus equipped, 
and each warrior painted in a manner to suit his fancy, and 
ornamented with appropriate feathers, they repaired to the 
spot appointed for the war-dance. 

A level, grassy plain extended for nearly a mile from the 
lodge of Wawanosh along the lake shore. Lodges of bark 
were promiscuously interspersed over this green, and here 
and there a solitary tall pine. A belt of yellow sand skirted 
the lake shore in front, and a tall, thick forest formed the 
background. In the center of this plain stood a high, shat- 
tered pine, with a clear space about, renowned as the scene 
of the war-dance time out of mind. Here the youths assem- 
bled, with their tall and graceful leader, distinguished by the 
feathers of the bald-eagle, which he wore on his head. A 
bright fire of pine wood blazed upon the green. He led his 
men several times around this fire, with a measured and 
solemn chant. Then suddenly halting, the war-whoop was 
raised, and the dance immediately began. An old man, 
sitting at the head of the ring, beat time upon the drum, 
while several of the elder warriors shook their rattles, and 
" ever and anon " made the woods re-echo with their yells. 

Thus they continued the dance for two successive days 
and nights. 



64 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

At length the prophet uttered his final prediction of suc- 
cess; and the warriors dropping off, one by one, from the 
fire, took their way to the place appointed for the rendez- 
vous, on the confines of the enemy's country. Their leader 
was not among the last to depart, but he did not leave the 
village without seeking an interview with the daughter of 
Wawanosh. He disclosed to her his firm determination 
never to return, unless he could establish his name as a 
warrior. He told her of the pangs he had felt at the bitter 
reproaches of her father, and declared that his soul spurned 
the imputation of effeminacy and cowardice implied by his 
language. He averred that he could never be liappy until 
he had proved to the whole tribe the strength of his heart. 
He said that his dreams had not been propitious, but he 
should not cease to invoke the power of the Great Spirit. 
He repeated his protestations of inviolable attachment, which 
she returned, and, pledging vows of mutual fidelity, they 
parted. 

That parting proved final. All she ever heard from her 
lover after this interview was brought by one of his success- 
ful warriors, who said that he had distinguished himself by 
the most heroic bravery, but, at the close of the fight, he 
had received an arrow in his breast. The enemy fled, leaving 
many of their warriors dead on the field. On examining 
the wound, it was perceived to be beyond their power to 
cure. They carried him toward home a day's journey, but 
he languished and expired in "the arms of his friends. From 
the moment the report was received, no smile was ever seen 
in the once happy lodge of Wawanosh. His daughter pined 
away by day and by night. Tears, sighs and lamentation 
were heard continually. Nothing could restore her lost 
serenity of mind. Persuasives and reproofs were alternately 
employed, but employed in vain. She would seek a seques- 
tered spot, where she would sit and sing her mournful 



LEGEND OF " LOVEr's LEAP.'' 



65 



laments for hours together. Passages of these are yet 
repeated by tradition, one of which we give : 

THE LOON'S FOOT. 

I thought it was the loon's foot, I saw beneath the tide 
±Jut no-it was my lover's shining paddle I espied ■ 
It was my lover's paddle, as my glance I upward cast, 
That dipped so light and gracefully as o'er the lake I passed. 
The loon's foot— the loon's foot, 

'Tis graceful on the sea; 
But not so light and joyous as 
That paddle-blade to me. 

My eyes were bent upon the wave. I cast them not aside 
And thought I saw the loon's foot beneath the silver tidJ 
But ah! my eyes deceived me-for as my glance I cast. ' 
It was my lover's paddle-blade that dipped so light and fast 
The loon's foot— the loon's foot, 

'Tis sweet and fair to see; 
But, oh, my lover's paddle-blade. 
Is sweeter far to me. 

The lake's wave-the long wave-the billow big and free 
It wafts me up and down, within my yellow light canoe; 
But while I see beneath heaven pictured as I speed 
It IS that beauteous paddle-blade that makes it heaven indeed 
The loon's foot— the loon's foot, 

T'he bird upon the sea. 
Ah! it is not so beauteous 
As that paddle-blade to me. 

flew upon the rock on which she usually sat. This mvsten' 
ons v,s,tor, which, from its sweet and artless notes, Tea 
Chtleeh seemed to respond in sympathy to her plaintive 
voice. It was a strange bird, such as had not before been 
observed. It came every day and remained chanting its 



66 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAO. 

notes till nightfall ; and when it left its perch, it seemed, 
from the delicate play of the colors of its plumage, as if it 
had taken its hues from the rainbow. Her fond imagination 
soon led her to suppose it was the spirit of her lover, and 
her visits to the lonely rock were repeated more frequently. 
She passed much of her time in fasting and singing her 
plaintive songs. There she pined away, taking little nour- 
ishment, and constantly desiring to pass away to that land of 
expected bliss and freedom from care, where it is believed 
that the spirits of men will be again reunited, and tread 
over fields of flowery enjoyment. One evening, her lifeless 
body was found at the foot of the rock, but when death 
came to her, it was not as the bearer of gloom and regrets, 
but as the herald of happiness. 



LEGEND OF "ARCH ROCK." 



After the Gitche Manitou had called into existence the 
beautiful Island of Mackinac and given it into the care of 
the kindred spirits of earth, air and water, and had told 
them it was only to be the abode of peace and quiet, it was 
so pleasant in his own eyes that he thought, " Here will I 
also come to dwell, tliis shall be my abode and my children 
may coma and worship me here. Here in the depths of the 
beautiful forest they shall come." 

Then calling his messengers, he bade them fly to all lands 
of heat and noise and troublous insects, and tell the suffering 
ones of every race and clime that in these northern waters 
was a place prepared where they could come and rest, leaving 
all care behind. 

In the straits of Mackinac, 
In the clear pellucid wave, 
Sitting like an emerald gem, 
Is the rock-girt Fairy Isle. 

Round its bold and craggy shore 
Sweep the billows far and wide, 
With a gentle sinuous swell, 
And the moan of distant seas. 

Blue its waters, blue the sky, 
Soft the west wind from afar 
Moving o'er the scented grass, 
And the many myriad flowers. 

The cool invigorating breezes shall bring health and elasti- 
city to the weak and weary. Here disease shall not dare 

[67j 



-68 ANNALS OF FOKT MACKINAC. 

invade the pleasant glens or beautiful hilltops. Here let them 
come and receive my blessing. 

" Ye shall also tell the stranger friends, who may come to 
seek me, that my royal landing is on the eastern shore; there 
shall they draw up the canoes upon the pebbW beaoh under 
the shadow of the Argued Gateway. Under the Aech 
which they can see from afar, let them come with songs of 
rejoicing — neither night or day shall it be closed to any one 
who may seek me. Let them land before it and pass through 
it and ascend to my dwelling, and worship before me. 

When the great spirit made known his wish to dwell with 
men, all nature seemed to rejoice and to make preparations 
for his abode. 

The tallest trees claimed the privilege of being the poles 
of his wigwam, and sweet balsam firs laid themselves at his 
fret for use. 

The birch trees unsheathed themselves and sent their bark 
in all its soft creamy whiteness to form the outside covering. 

The trees of the forest all vied with each other in seeking 
a place in the future home of the Gitche Manitou. 

Scarcely had the poles fitted themselves into their places, 
and the birch bark unrolled itself and arranged its clinging 
sheets in orderly rows upon the outside, when the noise of 
distant paddles was heard from the lake — swiftly and gaily 
they drew near, guided by the spirits of earth, air and water. 
Never had such a sight been witnessed on this earth. 

The Gitche Manitou, went to meet them, and stood upon 
the Arch and upheld his hands in blessing. 

As his children unloaded their offerings of beaver, white- 
bear and other skins, they marched in procession up to the 
gateway and fell upon their knees and offered their thanks 
to the great spirit for the happy privilege of contributing to 
the comforts of his earthly home. 



LEGEND OF " ARCH ROCK." 69 

" Yes, my children dear, my loved ones, 
I am here in joy and gladness. 
Here to live in peace among you. 
I have come to teach you wisdom 
In the arts of love and living. 
I accept your native offerings, 
These white bear, and fox skins silvery, 
Shall a couch of warmth and comfort 
Make for me when around my fire, 
I am resting from my labors. 
Of the beaver skins and otters 
They shall line the wigwam smoothly, 
So Ka-bi-bo-nok-ka, the north wind, 
Ne'er shall peep or whistle thro' them. 
Enter in my gateway proudly, 
And ascend my staircase slowly, 
And see the home of the Great Spirit, 
Where he dwells among his children." 

They did as he commanded, and when they were about to 
return he thus addressed them: 

" Now, my children, as you leave me. 
Forth to go upon your journey ings. 
Tell to all who know and love me, 
That whenever a chieftain 
"Wooes and weds a dark-eyed maiden, 
He shall bring her here before me. 
Gay with gai'lands, sweet with roses. 
With the sound of music fleeting 
Far and nfear from eveiy islet 
That lies sleeping in these waters, 
In these glittering, dark green waters. 
Sweetest strains of music blending 
Shall salute them, as the billows 
Of the mighty lake of wonders 
Bears them onward to the portals. 
Where my blessing will await them. 
And as long as they thus serve me 
I will dwell upon this island, 
.Henceforth blessing youth and maiden 
Joined in closest bonds of wedlock- 



70 LEOENl) OF " ARCH KOCK." 

But, if in the coming seasons, 
Some foul spirit roams among you, 
And destroys my loving children, 
This fair home that I have built 
Shall become a rocky fastness, 
Where they all may fly for shelter 
And be safe in my protection." 

Many, many years have passed. The wigwam ot the 
Great Spirit has been transmuted into stone, and is now 
known as the Pyramid. 

The Arched Gateway can still be seen as in ancient times, 
with its portals guarded by tall green sentinels. 



LEGEND OF MACKINAC ISLAND, 



There once lived an Indian in the north, who had ten 
daughters, all of whom grew up to womanhood. They were 
noted for their beauty, but especially Oweenee, the youngest, 
who was very independent in her way of thinking. She 
was a great admirer of romantic places, and paid very little 
attention to the numerous young men who came to her 
father's lodge for the purpose of seeing her. Her elder sis- 
ters were all solicited in marriage from their parents, and one 
after another went off to dwell in the lodges of their husbands, 
but she would listen to uo proposals of the kind. At last she 
married an old man called Osseo,who was scarcely able to walk, 
and too poor to have things like others. They jeered and 
laughed at her on all sides, but she seemed to be quite happy, 
and said to them, "It is my choice, and you will see in the end 
who has acted the wisest." Soon after, the sisters and their 
husbands and their parents were all invited to a feast, and 
as they walked along the path, they could not help pitying 
their young and handsome sister, who had such an unsuitable 
mate. Osseo often stopped and gazed upward, but they 
conld perceive nothing in the direction he looked, unless it 
was the faint glimmering of the evening star. They heard 
him muttering to himself as they went along, and one of the 
elder sisters caught the words, " Sho-wain-ne-me-shin nosa."* 
" Poor old man," said she, '' he is talking to his father, what 
a pity it is that he would not fall and break his neck, that 
our sister might have a handsome young husband." Pres- 

*Pity me, my father. 
[71] 



79 

ANNALS OF FOKT MACKINAC. 



ently they passed a large hollow log, lying with one end to- 
ward the path. The moment Osseo, who was of the turtle 
totem, came to it, he stopped short, uttered a loud and 
peculiar yell, and then dashing into one end of the log he 
came out at the other, a most beautiful young man,^ and 
sprmgmg back to the road, he led off the party with steps 
as light as the reindeer. But on turning round to look for 
Ins wife, behold, she had been changed into an old, decrepit 
woman, who was bent almost double, and walked with a 
cane. The husband, however, treated her very kindly as 
she had done him during the time of his enchantment, Ind 
constantly addressed her by the term of ne-ne-moosh-a, or 
my sweet-heart. 

When they came to the hunter's lodge with whom they 
were to feast, they found the feast ready prepared, and as 
soon as their entertainer had finished his harangue (in which 
he told them his feasting was in honor of the Evenino- or 
Woman's Star), they began to partake of the portion d^'ealt 
out, according to age and character, to each one. The food 
was very delicious, and they were all liappy but Osseo, wlio 
ooked at his wife and then gazed upward, as if he was 
looking into the substance of the sky. Sounds were soon 
heard, as if from far-off voices in the air, and they became 
plainer and plainer, till he could clearly distinguish some of 
the words." 

-My son-my son," said the voice, "I have seen your 
afflictions and pity your wants. I come to call you away 
from a scene that is stained with blood and tears. The 
earth is full of sorrows. Giants and sorcerers, the enemies 
of mankind, walk abroad in it, and are scattered tlirough- 
out Its length. Every night they are lifting their voices to 
the Power of Evil, and every day they make themselves 
busy in casting evil in the hunter's path. You have lon^r 
been their victim, but shall be their victim no more The 



LEGEND OF MACKINAC ISLAND. 



73 



spell you were under is broken. Yonr evil genius is over- 
come. I have cast him down by my superior strength, and 
this strength I now exert for your happiness. Ascend, 
my son — ascend into the skies, and partake of the feast 1 
have prepared for you in the stars, and bring with you those 
you love. 

"The food set before you is enchanted and blessed. 
Fear not to partake of it. It is endowed with magic power 
to give immortality to mortals, and to change men to 
spirits. Your bowls and kettles shall be no longer wood 
and earth. The one shall become silver, and the other 
wampum. They shall shine like fire, and glisten like the 
most beautiful scarlet. Every female shall also change her 
state and looks, and no longer be doomed to laborious 
tasks. She shall put on the beauty of tlie starlight, and 
be{5ome a shining bird of the air, clothed with shining 
feathers. She shall dance and not work — she shall sing 
and not cry." 

"My beams," continued the voice, "shine faintly on your 
lodge, but they have power to transform it into the light- 
ness of the skies, and decorate it with the colors of the 
clouds. Come, Osseo, my son, and dwell no longer on 
earth. Think strongly on my words, and look steadfastly at 
my beams. My power is now at its height. Doubt not — 
delay not. It is the voice of the Spirit of the stars that 
calls you away to happiness and celestial rest." 

The words were intelligible to Osseo, but his companions 
thought them some far-off sounds of music, or birds singing 
in the woods. Very soon the lodge began to shake and 
tremble, and they felt it rising into the air. It was too late 
to run out, they were already as high as the tops of the 
trees. Osseo looked around as the lodge passed through 
the topmost boughs, and behold ! their wooden dishes were 
changed into shells of a scarlet color, the poles of the lodge 



74 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

to glittering wires of silver, and the bark that covered them 
into the gorgeous wings of insects. A moment more, and 
his brothers and sisters, and their parents and friends, were 
transformed into birds of various plumage. Some were 
jays, some partridges and pigeons, and others gay singing 
birds, who hopped about, displaying their glittering feathers, 
and singing their song. But Oweenee still kept her eartlily 
garb, and exhibited all the indications of extreme age. He 
again cast his eyes in the direction of the clouds, and 
uttered that peculiar yell, which had given him the victory 
at the hollow log. In a moment the youth and beauty of 
his wife returned ; her dingy garments assumed the shining 
appearance of green silk, and her cane was changed into a 
silver feather. The lodge again shook and trembled, for 
they were now passing through the uppermost clouds, and 
they immediately after found themselves in the Evening 
Star, the residence of Osseo's father. 

" My son," said the old man, " hang that cage of birds, 
which you have brought along in your hand, at the door, 
and I will inform you why you and your wife have been 
sent for." Osseo obeyed the directions ; and then took his 
seat in the lodge. " Pity was shown to you," resumed the 
king of the star, ''on account of the contempt of your 
wife's sisters, who laughed at her ill fortune, and ridiculed 
you while you were under the power of that wicked spirit, 
whom you overcame at the log. That spirit lives in the 
next lodge, being a small star you see on the left of mine, 
and he has always felt envious of my family, because we 
had greater power than he had, and especially on account 
of our having had the care committed to us of the female 
world. He failed in several attempts to destroy your 
brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, but succeeded at last in 
transforming yourself and your wife into decrepit old per- 
sons. You must be careful and not let the light of his 



LEGEND OF MACKINAC ISLAND, 75t 

beams fall on you while you are here, for therein is the 
power of his enchantmeut; a ray of light is the bow and 
arrow he uses." 

Osseo lived happy and contented in the parental lodge, 
and in due time his wife presented him with a son, who 
grew up rapidly, and was the image of his father. He was 
very quick and ready in learning everything that was done 
in his grandfather's dominions, but he wished also to learn 
the art of hunting, for he had heard this was a favorite 
pursuit below. To gratify him, his father made him a bow 
and arrows, and he then let the birds out of the cage that 
he might practise in shooting. He soon became an expert, 
and the very first day brought down a bird, but when he 
went to pick it up, to his amazement, it was a beautiful 
young woman with the arrow sticking in her breast. It 
was one of his aunts. The moment her blood fell upon 
the surface of that pure and spotless planet, the charm was 
dissolved. The boy immediately found himself sinking, but 
was partly upheld, by something like wings, till he passed 
through the lower clouds, and he then suddenly dropped 
upon a high, romantic island. He was pleased on look- 
ing up to see all his aunts and uncles following him in 
the form of birds, and he soon discovered the silver lodge, 
with his father and mother, descending with its waving 
barks looking like so many insects' gilded wings. It rested 
on the highest cliffs of the island, and here they fixed their 
residence. They all resumed their natural shapes., but were 
diminished to the size oi fairies; as a mark of homage to 
the King of the Evening Star, they never fail, on every 
pleasant evening during the summer season, to join hands 
and dance upon the top of the rocks. These rocks were 
quickly observed by the Indians to be covered, in moonlight 
evenings, with a larger sort of Puk Wudj Ininees, or little 
men, and were called Mish-in-e-moh-in-oTc-ong, or turtle 



76 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

spirits, whence the island derives is name. Their shining 
lodge can be seen in the summer evenings when the moon 
shines strongly on the pinnacles of the rocks, and those who 
go near those high clijffs at night can hear the voices of the 
happy little dancers. 



THE GIANT FAIRIES. 



Long years before the white man came into these regions, 
many fairies lived here, rollicking fairies, who laughed and 
danced and sung their lives away. 

Every flower and bush and tree, every rock and hill and 
glen, was thickly peopled with these canny folk, and on 
moonlight nights all the Indians in their wigwams sat in 
breathless attention — 

Then they hear, now sweet and low, 

Sounds as of a distant lyi'e, 

Touched by fairy hands so light 

That the trembling tones scarce are heard. 

What the music none can tell, 
So unearthly and so pure, — 
But it seems as if the notes 
Loosened all the magic sounds 
Held within the tinkling grass,— 
In the mosses and the ferns. 
In the vines which climb and creep, 
In the flowers of every hue, — 
In the heavy-folded rose, 
In the violets at its feet, 
In the lily's gentle swing. ' 

Sweeping o'er the lonely streams, 
Through the sands on deserts low. 
Through the snows on mountains high, 
Through the flowers on the plains, 
Through the sylvan shady bowers, 
Through the forests dark and hoar, 
Through the lofty oaks and elms, 



78 



ANNALS OF FOKT MACKINAC, 

Through the leaves of tulip trees, 
Through catalpas, white with bloom. 
Through magnolias kingly crowned, 
Through the poplars, amber sweet, 
Through the towering cypresses. 
Pendant with the gray old mosses, 
Patriarchs of" the lowlier tribes. 
With the sound of laughing brookg, 
And the notes of singing birds ; 
Softened by the cooing dove, 
By the plover's gentle dip, 
By the lonely, limpid rills, 
By the silence, deep, profound, 
Resting o'er the wilderness. 

With the thunder's distant roar, 
Rolling, rumbling through the sky. 
Over mountains, hills, and plains, 
Over rivers, lakes, and seas; 
Chiming with the overture 
In its massive undertones, 
Mellowing, melting all its chords 
Into dulcet harmonies; 
Into dirge-like requiems; 
Into rhythmic symphonies; 
Gathering all the breath of song 
In its weird and wayward moods; 
In its plaintive, touching strains; 
In its playful laughing trills; 
In its wild and fearful tones; 
Trancing all the insect tribes. 
Hid in thicket, bush, and grove; — 
Butterflies, of every hue. 
Bees, of wondrous skill and lore; 
Beetles, puzzled, lost, and wild; 
Mites and emmets, flies and gnats, 
Maddened, ravished, filled with joy, — 
Frenzied with the flush of song. 



THE GIANT FAIKIE8. ~J) 

Birds, in forest, tree, and copse, 
In the jungle, in the grass, 
Near the lonely stream and lake, 
On the wing in winding flocks, 
Wildered with the rapturous sounds. 
Pause to listen, still and mute, 
Till the tempest rushes past, — 

O, the music ! O, the sweet ! 
Breathing fragrance, breathing song. 
Mingling all of earth and air 
That can charm the wakened sense. 
Thus with odors rich and rare. 
Music lent its magic power. 
Dirge and requiem, ditty, lay. 
Fugue and march, and waltz and hymn 
Silver-toned, euphontous, grave; 
Chimes of measured step and grace. 
Dulcet strains of sweetest rhythm. 
Overtures of matchless sweep, — 
All that fills the hungry air. 
All that wakes the sleeping sense, 
Blending with the virgin soil; 
With the creeping juniper. 
With the cedar and the pine. 
With the rich magnolia's bloom, 
With the jasmine and the grape, 
With the scent of early fruits; — 
Such the music, such the air. 
Sweeping westward o'er the lakes, 
Such,— the Isle of Mackinac. 

It was upon the eastern rock-bound shore that the 
giant fairies most loved to congregate. There they skipped 
up and down their famous stairway, and, flinging themselves 
into the water, would disappear in its depths, perhaps to rise 
again on the back of some immense sturgeon or whitefish, 
the reindeer of the lakes, for a race through, the sparkling 
water. 



80 AKNAL8 OF F©RT MACKINAC. 

These genii lived in the many caves in the rocks. In the 
depths of their quiet homes were — 

Tables, crowned with daintiest food, 
Wine of berries, rich and sweet ; 
Beds of eider-down and moss; 
Cliarabers, opening to the sea. 
Filled with sparkling stalactites ; 
Rubies bright, and amethysts. 
Diamonds flashing, filled with light; 
Marble halls and palaces ; 
Corridors, of awful length, 
Stretching westward toward tbe sun, 
Opening into distant halls, 
Wildering to the aching sight. 
Wide the pavements covered o'er 
With the shells of Qvery hue ; 
Lichens green, and red, and white. 
Spreading wider, flush and fair, 
Sprinkled with the aureate dust 
Found within their hidden caves. 

Their favorite dancing place was the plateau just below 
where the fort now stands, and the entrance to their subter- 
ranean abode was under the immense rock that supports one 
of the corners of the wall. 

Here their mystic ring was kept, and on moonlight nights 
they gathered from far and near — 

At twilight on the lonely Isle, 
'Mid the rustling of the leaves, 
And the chirp of dainty birds, 
And the notes of whip-poor-wills, — 
Oft was heard the mystic dance 
Of Giant Fairies, lithe of step. 
Moving in their sinuous sweep 
To the sounds of lute and string. 
Now, where the rippling waters play, 
Or on the billow's gentle swell, 
Laughing, rollicking and free, 



THE GIANT FAIRIES. 81 

Or clambering Donan's Obelisk, 

"With towering leap and sportive romp, 

With heyday pranks, and leer, and jest, 

They reel, and minuet, and waltz. 

In wassail mirth and jollity. 

Upon Ledyabd's lofty Cliffs they perch. 

In graceful curves they reach the Arch 

That hangs upon the eastern shore, — 

Now gently tripping round its base, 

They climb upon its rugged sides, 

And sweeping o'er its dizzy height, 

With rapid flight and easy grace, 

They move around the Pyramid, 

And peep within its secret caves. 

Or stand upon its star-lit shaft; — 

And then, away, away, away, 

They sweep around the grand plateau 

That sits enthroned upon the Isle; — 

Within Skull Cave they barely peep, 

RuGGLEs' Pillar, they lightly touch, 

To Whitney's Point, they hie away, 

Thence, the Lover's Leap they climb. 

Here the tramping feet were heax*d 

Of the Pe-quod-e-nonge dance, * 

When the gathering warriors came 

Plumed and painted for the fight; — 

And the startling yell was heard 

O'er the Island — o'er the straits, 

O'er the waters, deep and clear. 

O'er the Huron and its shores. 

O'er the breezy Michigan; 



Suddenly La Salle's morning gun from the " Griffon " rang 
out on the breeze and echoed and re-echoed with many re- 
verberations from the adjacent shores. 

With horrible shrieks and cries and groans they flew from 
all parts of the island, and entering their cave disappeared 
evermore from mortal view. 



83 ANNALS OF FOET MACKINAC. 

Reluctantly they left the Isle 
When the " pale faces " touched upon 
Their native waters, rocks, and hills; — 
For only will they deign to dwell 
Where the wild hunter seeks his food 
And claims the forest all his own. 

I sing of the fairies fled, 

I know not where they are, 
Whether living, dying, or dead. 

On the earth, or some distant star. 
In the hollow wastes, or the vacant caves, 

In the shadowy, dreamless land. 
Where the river of Lethe gently laves 

Its footless and dusky sand, — 
Far, far away is the spectral band. 

Over the silent moor, 

Over the secret dell, 
Over the waters fresh and pure 

With music's magic spell, 
Hither and thither they went. 

Now rapid, or grave, or slow, 
» Till the drowsy hours were spent 

And the morning began to glow. 
But we see them now no more. 

We hear them not at even. 
By river, or lake, or lonely shore, 

Beneath the western heaven. 



And thus have the fairies left our shore, 
Their beautiful forms we shall see no more; 
The caves are forsaken, the mountain and plain, 
Our Island home shall greet them — never again. 



LEGEND OF MISHINI-MAKINAO. 83 



LEGEND OF "MISHmi-MAKINAK." 

Note : — There is a tradition that many centuries ago while 
a party of Indians were standing on the bluff where St. 
Ignace is now located, and looking out over the straits 
they saw the present Island of Mackinac rising out of the 
water, and beliving it was some animal, from its movements 
and shape they pronounced it to be a turtle. 

The Island was known to the early French visitors as 
" Michilimackinac: " popular tradition says that the meaning 
of the word is " Giant Turtle." 

In the Ojibwa dialect as now spoken, " Mishimikinak " 
signifies " Big Turtle." 

Edisoked. — A story teller; one who repeats and hands 
down the tales of Mena-bosho and other kindred legendary 
lore. 

Eh heh ! Eh heh ! — is the usual refrain of Indian magic 
songs. 

Where the restless currents of Michigan 

The twin-born Huron embrace, 
Along the headland there sat a clan 

Of the wild Ojibwa I'ace. 

In the noontide calm, on the sleepy shore. 

Reposed the lords of the land, 
While the story-teller's mystic lore 

Beguiled the simple band. 

Thus spake the prattling Edisoked; — 

"A wigwam stands in the deep; 
Enchanted lies in the channel's bed 

The Giant Turtle asleep. 



S4 ANNALS OF FOKT MACKINAC. 

Around him paddle whitefish and trout, 
The slow worm creeping goes; 

The sea-gull's scream and the rover's shout 
Break not his charmed repose. 

Rise up, rise up, O Turtle grey; 

Rise up, thou chief of the lake, 
Thy cousins call thee, — eh heh! eh heh! 

Enchanted Turtle, awake!" 

The lake lay calm and the wind was hush'd, 

But lo! there rose a swell; 
The surges over the pebbles rushed — 

The song had broken the spell. 

It heaves; it eddies. Alack! Alack! 

The breakers tower and fall; 
Unwieldy Mishini-makinak 

Toils up to answer the call. 

Already whitens the flood mid-way 

Twixt shore and shore. On the strand, 

Along the headland, in blank dismay 
The brown Ojibwa stand. 

And slowly, softly the rounded back 

Emerging meets the eye. 
Till all of Mishini-makinak 

Lies basking 'neath the sky. 

He floats, a mammoth in turtle shape, 
An overturned bowl, the back; 

The dragging tail a fleshy cape, 
The jowl a headland black. 

The mighty shell like an island lies, 

At anchor out in the lake. 
*Tis not an isle. O strange sui'prise! * 
'Tis the Chief uncharmed, awake! 

Unmoved, alike, by the billow's sweep, 
By the tempest's battering shock, 

Severe and calm in the azure deep, 
He stands a towering rock. 



LEGEND OF MISHINI-MAKINAK. 85 

But alert within that frowning form 

The spirit blithe and gay, 
With fairy sprites, that 'round him swarm, 

Communes by night and day. 

The dappled trout and the whitefish come 

Up-lake, down over the Falls; 
His children all from their silent home 

To the gay carouse he calls. 

The Red Man — eager yet doubtful, while 

The silver tide runs past. 
Enticed, bewitched, to the magic isle 

His birch bark paddles at last. 

And one there comes in robe of black, 

With face so sweet and grave. 
That frowning Mishini-makinak 

Smiles on him from the wave. 

With toilworn feet, a pilgrim quaint, 

The holy cross in his hand 
From la belle France he comes, good saint, 

To sleep on the pebbly strand. 

And over the waves as the chief grows old, 

In storm or sunshine gay. 
The Lily, Lion and Eagle bold 

Their homage come to pay. 

On hoary Mishini-makinak 

Their several flags unfurl. 
While wrestling, each from the giant's back 

The other seeks to hurl. 

Oh! sure is the flight to the mother bee 
Of the humming swarms of the hive; 

But surer, swifter, from land and sea. 
The Chieftain's vassals arrive. . 

From prairies far and their burning heat. 

From Hudson's shivering bay; 
From the western peaks, at the Giant's feet 

They flock their wealth to lay. 



86 AJN^ALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

The skiff, the light canoe, the smack. 
The merchant's ship in their wake, 

All bound for Mishini-makinak 
Are plowing river and lake. 

Bright, broken dream! It calls not back 

That gay chivalric time: — 
Wilt thou still honor old Makinak, 

Age of the dollar and dime ? 

Behold the answer! Do not these things 

Arabian marvels eclipse? 
On comes — on comes, — as on eagle's wings, 

A fleet of wingless ships ! 

With panting bosom, — with splashing gait, 

With dull monotonous roar, 
They come, — their frolicsome human freight 

In the Sorcerer's lap to pour. 

There all, in sweet oblivion lost, 
(The touch of witcliery's wand) 

Their ailments offer a holocaust 
At Giant Tctrtlb's command. 



ANNALS OF FOKT MACKINAC. 87 



Shingebiss. 



There was once a Shingebiss, the name of the fall dnck, 
living alone in a solitary lodge on Mackinac Island in the 
coldest winter weather. The ice had formed on the water, 
and he had but four logs of wood to keep his fire. Each of 
these would, however, burn a month', and as there were but 
four cold winter months, they were sufficient to carry him 
through till spring. 

Shingebiss was hardy and fearless, and cared for no one. 
He would go out during the coldest day, and seek for places 
where flags and rushes grew through the ice, and plucking 
them up with his bill, would dive through the openings, in 
quest of fish. In this way he found plenty of food, while 
others were starving, and he went home daily to his lodge, 
dragging strings of fish after him, over the ice. 

Kabibonokka* observed him, and felt a little piqued at his 
perseverance and good luck in defiance of the severest blasts 
of wind he could send from the northwest. " Why ! this is a 
wonderful man," said he ; "he does not mind the cold, and ap- 
pears ashappj' and contented as if it were the month of June. 
I will try whether he cannot be mastered." He poured forth 
tenfold colder bhists, and drifts of snow, so that it was next 
to impossible to live in the open air. Still, the fire of Shinge- 
biss did not go out: he wore but a single strip of leather 
around his body, and he was seen, in the worst weather, 
searching the shores for rushes, and carrying home fish. 

"I shall go and visit him," said Kabibonokka, one day, as 

* A personification of the northwind. 



88 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

he saw Shingebiss dragging along a quantity of fish. And, 
"accordingly, that very night, he went to the door of his lodge. 
iMeantinie Shingebiss had cooked his fish, and finished his 
meal, and was lying, partly on his side, before the fire, singing 
his songs. After Kabibonokka had come to the door, and 
stood listening there, he sang as follows :- 

Windy god, I know your plan, 
You are but my fellow-man; 
Blow you may your coldest breeze, 
Shingebiss you cannot freeze, 
Sweep the strongest wind you can, 
Shingebiss is still your man ; 
Heigh! for life — and ho! for bliss, 
Who so free as Shingebiss ? 

The hunter knew that Kabibonokka was at his door, for 
he felt his cold breath ; but he kept on singing his songs, and 
affected utter indifference. At length Kabibonokka entered, 
and took a seat on the opposite side of the lodge. Shingebiss 
did not notice him, but got up as if nobody were present, 
pushed the log, which made his fire burn brighter, repeating, 
as he sat down again : — 

You are but my fellow-man. 

Yery soon the tears began to flow down Kabibonokka's 
cheeks so fast, that, presently, he said to himself : " 1 can- 
not stand this — I must go out; he must be aided by some 
Manitou, I can neither freeze him nor starve him — he is a 
very singular being — I will let him alone." 



an:!<als of fokt mackinac. 



The Celestial Sisters. 



Waupee, or the White Hawk, lived in a remote part of the 
forest, where animals and birds were abundant. Every day 
he returned from the chase with the reward of his toil, for 
he was one of the most skilful and celebrated hunters of his 
tribe. With a tall, manly form, and the fire of youth beam- 
ing from his eye, there was no forest too gloomy for him to 
penetrate, and no track made by the numerous kinds of birds 
and beasts which he could not follow. 

One day he penetrated beyond any point which he had be- 
fore visited. He travelled through an open forest, which 
enabled him to see a great distance. At length he beheld a 
light breaking through the foliage, which made him sure 
that he was on the borders of a prairie. It was a wide plain 
covered with grass and flowers. After walking some time 
without a path, he suddenly came to a ring worn through the 
sod, as if it had been made by footsteps following a circle. 
But what excited his surprise was, that there was no path 
leading to or from it. Not the least trace of footsteps could 
be found, even in a crushed leaf or broken twig. He thought 
he would hide himself, and lie in wait to see what this circle 
meant. Presently he heard the faint sounds of music in the 
air. He looked up in the direction they came from, and saw 
a small object descending from above. At first it looked like 
a mere speck, but rapidly increased, and, as it came down, the 
music became plainer and sweeter. It assumed the form of 
a basket, and was filled with twelve sisters of the inost lovely 
forms and enchanting beauty. As soon as the basket touched 



90 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

the ground, tliey leaped out, and began to dance round the 
magic ring, striking, as they did so a shining ball as we strike 
the drum. Wan j3ee gazed upon tlicir graceful forms and mo- 
tions from his place of concealment. He admired them all, 
but was most pleased with the youngest. Unable longer to 
restrain his admiration, he rushed out and endeavored to 
eeize her. But the sisters, with the quickness of birds, the 
moment they descried the form of a man, leaped back into 
•the basket and were drawn up into the sky. 

Regretting his ill luck and indiscretion, he gazed till he 
gaw them disappear, and then said, " They are gone, and I 
shall see them no more." He returned to his solitary lodge, 
but found no relief to his mind. Next day he went back to 
the prairie, and took his station near the ring ; but in order 
to deceive the sisters, he assumed the form of an opossum. 
he had not waited long, when he saw the wicker car descend, 
and heard the same sweet music. They commenced the 
same sportive dance, and seemed even more beautiful and 
graceful than before. He crept slowly towards the ring, but 
the instant the sisters saw him they were startled, and sprang 
into their car. It rose but a short distance, when one of the 
elder sisters spoke. " Perhaps," said she, " it is come to show 
us how the game is played by mortals." " Oh, no ! " the 
youngest replied ; " quick, let us ascend." And all joining 
in a chant, they rose out of sight. 

Waupee returned to his own form again, and walked sor- 
rowfully back to his lodge. But the night seemed a very 
long one, and he went back betimes the next day. Pie re- 
flected upon the sort of plan to follow to secure success. He 
found an old stump near by, in which there were a number 
of mice. He thought their small form would not create 
alarm, and accordingly assumed it. He brought the stump 
and sat it up near the ring. The sisters came down and re- 
sumed their sport. " But see," cried the younger sister. 



ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 91 

" that stump was not there before." She ran affrighted 
towards the car. They only smiled and gathering around the 
Btnmp, struck it in jest, wlien out ran the mice, Waupee 
among the rest. They killed them all but one, which was 
pursued by the youngest sister ; but just as she had raised 
her stick to kill it, the form of Waupee arose, and he clasped 
his prize in his arms. The other eleven sprang to their bas- 
ket and were drawn up to the skies. 

He exerted all his skill to please his bride and win her af- 
fections. He wiped the tears from her eyes. He related 
his adventures in the chase. He dwelt upon the charms of life 
on the earth. He was incessant in his attentions, and picked 
out the way for her to walk as he led her gently towards his 
lodge. He felt his heart glow with joy as she entered it, and 
from that moment he was one of the happiest of men. Winter 
and summer passed rapidly away, and their happiness was in- 
creased by the addition of a beautiful boy to their lodge. 
She was a daughter of one of the stars, and as the scenes 
of earth began to pall her sight, she sighed to revisit her 
father. But she was obliged to hide these feelings from her 
husband. She remembered the charm that would carry her 
up, and took occasion, while Waupee was engaged in the 
chase, to construct a wicker basket, which she kept concealed. 
In the mean time she collected such rarities from the earth 
as she thought would please her father, as well as the most 
dainty kinds of food. When all was in readiness, she went 
out one day, while Waupee was absent, to the charmed ring, 
taking her little son with her. As soon as they got into the 
car she commenced her song and the basket rose. As the 
song was wafted by the wind, it caught her husband's ear. 
It was a voice which he well knew, and he instantly ran to 
the prairie. But he could not reach the ring before he saw 
his wife and child ascend. He lifted up his voice in loud ap- 
peals, but they were unavailing. The basket still went up. 



92 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

He watched it till it became a small speck, and finally it van- 
ished in the sky. He then bent his head down to the ground, 
and was miserable. 

Waupee bewailed his loss through a long winter and a long 
summer. But he found no relief. He mourned his wife's 
loss sorely, but his son's still more. In the meantime his 
wife had reached her home in the stars, and almost forgot, in 
the blissful employments there, that she had left a husband 
on the earth. She was reminded of this by the presence of 
her son, who, as he grew up, became anxious to visit the 
scene of his birth. His grandfather said to his daughter one 
day, " Go, my child, and take your son down to his father, 
and ask him to come up and live with us. But tell him to 
bring along a specimen of each kind of bird and animal he 
kills in the chase." She accordingly took the boy and des- 
cended. Waupee, who was ever near the enchanted spot, 
heard her voice as she came down the sky. His heart beat 
with impatience as he saw her form and that of his son, and 
they were swon clasped in his arms. 

He heard the message of the Star, and began to hunt with 
the greatest activity, that he might collect the present. He 
spent whole nights, as well as days, in searching for every 
curious and beautiful bird or animal. He only preserved a 
tail, foot or wing of each, to identify the species; and, when 
all was ready, they went to the circle and were carried up. 

Great joy was manifested on their arrival at the starry 
plains. The Star Chief invited all his people to a feast, and, 
wlien they had assembled, he proclaimed aloud that each one 
might take of the earthly gifts such as he liked best. A very 
strange confusion immediately arose. Some chose a foot, 
some a wing, some a tail, and some a claw. Those who 
selected tails or claws were changed into animals, and ran off ; 
the others assumed the form of birds, and flew away. Wau- 
pee chose a white hawk's feather. His wife and son followed 



ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 93 

his example, when each one became a white hawk. Pleased 
with his transformation and new vitality, the chief spread out 
gracefully his white wings, and followed by kis wife and son, 
descended to the earth. 



9A ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 



The Summer-Maker. 



There formerly lived a celebrated hunter on the north- 
ern shore of Mackinac Island, who was a very powerful 
Manitou, for there was nothing but what he could accom- 
plish. He lived in a wild, lonesome place, with a wife 
whom he loved, and they were blessed with a son who had 
attained his thirteenth year. The hunter's name was Ojeeg, 
or the Fisher, which is the name of an expert, sprightly little 
animal, common to the region. He was so successful in the 
chase that he seldom returned without bringing his wife and 
son a plentiful supply of venison, or other dainties of the 
woods. As hunting formed his constant occupation, his son 
began early to emulate his father in the same employment, 
and would take his bow and arrows, and exert his skill in try- 
ing to kill birds and squirrels. The greatest impediment he 
met with, was the coldness and severity of the climate. He 
often returned home, his little fingers benumbed with cold 
and crying with vexation at his disappointment. Months 
and years passed away, but still the same perpetual depth 
of snow was seen, covering all the country with a white 
clo;ik. 

One day, after a fruitless trial of his forest skill, the little 
boy was returning homeward with a heavy heart, when he 
saw a small red squirrel gnawing the top of a pine bur. 
He had approached within a proper distance to shoot, when 
the squirrel sat up on its hind legs and thus addressed him : 

" My grandchild, put up your arrows and listen to what I 
have to tell you." The boy complied rather reluctantly, 
when the squirrel continued: " My son, I see you pass fre- 



ANNALS OF FOKT MACKINAC. 95 

quently, with your fingers benumbed with cold, and crying 
with vexation for not having killed any birds, Now, if you 
will follow ray advice, we will see if you cannot accomplish 
your wishes. If you will strictly pursue my advice, we will 
have perpetual summer, and you will then have the pleasure 
of killing as many birds as you please, and I will also have 
something to eat. 

"Listen to me. As soon as j'^ou get home you must com- 
mence crying. You must throw away your bow and arrows 
in discontent. If your mother asks you what is the matter, 
you must not answer her, but continue crying and sobbing. 
If she offers you anything to eat, you must push it away with 
apparent discontent, and continue crying. In the evening, 
when your father returns from hunting, he will inquire of 
your mother what is the matter with you. She will answer 
that you came home crying, and would not so much as men- 
tion the cause to her. All this while you must not leave off 
sobbing. At last your father will say, ' My son, why is 
this unnecessary grief? Tell me the cause. You know I 
am a spirit, and that nothing is impossible for me to per- 
form.' You must then answer him, and say that you are 
sorry to sec the snow continually on the ground, and ask him 
if he could not cause it to melt, so that we might have per- 
petual summer. Say it in a supplicating way, and tell him 
this is the cause of your grief. Your father will reply, ' It 
is very hard to accomplish your request, but for your sake 
and for my love for you, I will use my utmost endeavors.' 
He will tell you to be still and cease crying. He will try to 
bring summer with all its loveliness. You must then be 
quiet, and eat that which is set before you." 

The squirrel ceased. The boy promised obedience to his 
advice, and departed. When he reached home, he did as he 
had been instructed, and all was exactly fulfilled, as it had 
been predicted by the squirrel. 



96 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

Ojeeg told him that it was a great undertaking. He must 
first make a feast, and invite some of his friends to accom- 
pany him on a journey. Next day he had a bear roasted 
whole. All who had been invited to tlie feast came punc- 
tually to the appointment. There were the Otter, Beaver, 
Lynx, Badger, and Wolverine. After the feast they ar- 
ranged it among themselves to set out on the contemplated 
journey in three daj's. When the time arrived, the Fisher 
took leave of his wife and son, as he foresaw that it was for 
the last time. He and his companions traveled in company 
day after day, meeting with nothing but the ordinary inci- 
dents. On the twentieth day they arrived at the foot of a 
high mountain, where they saw the tracks of some person 
who had recently killed an animal, which they knew by tlie 
blood that marked the way. The Fisher told his friends that 
they ought to follow the track, and see if they could not pro- 
cure something to eat. They followed it for some time ; at 
last they arrived at a lodge which had been hidden from their 
view by a hollow in the mountain. Ojeeg told his friends 
to be very sedate, and not to laugh on any account. The 
first object that they saw was a man standing at the door of 
the lodge, but of so deformed a shape that they could not 
possibly make out who or what sort of a man it could be. 
His head was enormously large ; he had such a queer set of 
teeth, and no arms. They wondered how he could kill ani- 
mals. But the secret was soon revealed. He was a great 
Manitou. He invited them to pass the night, to which they 
consented. 

He boiled his meat in a hollow vessel made of wood, and 
took it out of this singular kettle in some way unknown to 
his guests. He carefully gave each their portion to eat, but 
made so many odd movements that the Otter could not re- 
frain from laughing. The Manitou looked at him with a 
terrible look, and then made a spring at him, and got on him 



ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 97 

to smother him, for that was his mode of killing animals. 
Bat the Otter, when he felt him on his neck, slipped his 
head back and made for the door, which he passed in safety ; 
but went out with the curse of the Manitou. The others 
passed the night and tliuy conversed on different subjects. 
The Manitou told the Fisher. that he would accomplish his 
object, but that it would probably cost him his life. He 
gave them his advice, directctl them how to act, and described 
a certain road which they must follow, and they would there- 
by be led to the place of action. 

They set off in the morning, and met their friend, the 
Otter, shivering with cold ; but Ojeeg had taken care to 
bring along some of the meat that had been given him, 
which he presented to his fi'iend. They pursued their way 
and travelled twenty days more before they got to the place 
which the Manitou had told them of. It was a lofty moun- 
tain. They rested on its highest peak to fill their pipes and 
refresh themselves. Before smoking, they made the custom- 
ary ceremony, pointing to the heavens, the four winds, the 
earth and the zenith; in the meantime, speaking in a loud 
voice, addressed the Great Spirit, hoping that their object 
would be accomplished. They then commenced smoking. 

They gazed on the sky in silent admiration and astonish- 
ment, for they were on so elevated a point, that it appeared 
to be only a short distance above their heads. After they 
had finished smoking, they prepared themselves. Ojeeg 
told the Otter to make the first attempt to try and make a 
hole in the sky. He consented with a grin. He made a 
leap, but fell down the hill stunned by the force of his fall ; 
and the snow being moist, and falling on his back, he slid 
with velocity down the side of the mountain. When he 
found himself at the bottom, he thought to himself, it is 
the last time I make such a jump, so 1 will make the 
best of my way home. Then it was the turn of the Beaver» 



98 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

wlio made the attempt, but fell down senseless; then of the 
LjMix and Badger, who had no better success. 

"Now," says Fisher to the Wolverine, " try your skill; 
your ancestors were celebrated for their activity, hardihood, 
and perseverance, and I depend on j^ou for success. Now, 
make the attempt." He did. so, but also witliout success. 
He leaped the second time, but now they could see that the 
sky was j^iving way to their repeated attempts. Mustering 
strength, he made the third leap, and went in. The Fisiier 
nimbly followed him. 

They found themselves in a beautiful plain, extending as 
far as the eye could reach, covered with flowers of a thousand 
different hues and fragrance. Here and there were chisters 
of tall, shady trees, separated by innumerable streams of the 
purest water, which wound around their courses under the 
cooling shades, and filled the plain with countless beautiful 
lakes, whose banks and bosom were covered with water-fowl, 
basking and sporting in the sun. The trees were alive with 
birds of different plumage, warbling their sweet notes, and 
delighted with perpetual spring. 

The Fisher and his friend beheld very long lodges, and 
the celestial inhabitants amusing themselves at a distance. 
Words cannot express the beauty and charms of the place. 
The lodges were empty of inhabitants, but they saw them 
lined with mocuks* of different sizes, filled with birds and 
fowls of different plumage. Ojeeg thought of his son, and 
immediately commenced cutting open the mocnks and letting 
out the birds, who descended in whole flocks through the 
opening which they had made. The warm air of those re- 
gions also rushed down through the opening, and spread its 
genial influence over the north. 

When the celestial inhabitants saw the birds let loose, and 
the warm gales descending, they raised a shout like thun- 

*Baskets, or cages. 



ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 99 

der, and ran for their lodges. But it was too late. Spring, 
summer and autumn had gone; even perpetual summer had 
almost all gone; but they separated it with a blow, and only 
a part descended ; but the ends were so mangled, that, wher- 
ever it prevails among the lower inhabitants, it is always 
sickly. 

When the Wolverine heard the noise, he made for the 
opening and safely descended. Not so the Fisher. Anxious 
to fulfil his son's wishes, he continued to break open the mo- 
cuks. He was, at last, obliged to run also, but the opening 
was now closed by the inhabitants. He ran with all his might 
over the plains of heaven, and it would appear, took a north- 
erly direction. He saw his pursuers so close that he had to 
climb the lirst large tree he came to. They commenced 
shooting at him with their arrows, but without effect, for all 
his body was invulnerable except the space of about an inch 
near the tip of his tail. At last one of the arrows hit the 
spot, for he had in this chase assumed the sliape of the Fisher 
after whom he was named. 

He looked down from the tree, and saw some among his 
assailants with the totems* of his ancestors. He claimed re- 
lationship and told them to desist, which they only did at the 
approach of night. He then came down to try and find an 
opening in the celestial plain, by which he might descend to 
the earth. But he could find Koue. At last, becoming faint 
from the loss of blood from the wound on his tail, he laid 
himself down toward the north of the plain, and, stretching 
out his limbs, said, " I have fulfilled my promise to my son, 
though it has cost me my life ; but I die satisfied in the idea 
that I have done so much good, not only for him, but for my 
fellow-beings. Hereafter I will be a sign to the inhabitants 
below for ages to come, who will venerate my name for hav- 

* Family arms, or armorial mark. 



100 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

ing succeeded in procuring the varying seasons. Tliey will 
now have from eight to ten moons without snow." 

He was found dead next morning, but they left him as thev 
found him, with the arrow sticking in iiis tail, as it can be 
plainly seen, at this time, in the heavens. 



ANMALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 101 



The Spirit of Sleep. 



The power of the Indian Morpheus is executed by a pecu- 
liar class of gnome-liive beings, called We&iigs. These subor- 
dinate creations, althougli invisible to the human eye, are 
each armed with a tiny war-club, with which they nimbly 
climb up the forehead, and knock the drowsy person on the 
head ; on whicli sleepiness is immediately produced. If the 
first blow is insufficient, another is given, until the eyelids 
close, and a sound sleep is produced. It is the constant duty 
of these little agents to put every one to sleep whoni they en- 
counter — men, women and children. They are found se- 
creted around the bed, or on small protuberances of the bark 
of the Indian lodges. They hide themselves in the smoking 
pouch of the hunter, and when he sits down to light his pipe 
in the woods, are ready to fly out and exert their sleep-com- 
pelling power. If they succeed, the game is suffered to pass, 
and the hunter obliged to return to his lodge without a 
reward. 

In general, they are represented to possess friendly dispo- 
sitions, seeking constantly to restore vigor and elasticity to 
the exhausted body. But being without judgment, their 
power is sometimes exerted at the hazard of i-eputation, or 
even life. Sleep may be induced in a person carelessly float- 
ing in his canoe, above a fall ; or in a war party, on the bor- 
ders of an enemy's country. Although their peculiar season 
of action is in the night, they are also alert during the day. 

While the forms of these gnomes are believed to be those 
of little or fairy men, the figure of Weeng himself is un- 
known, and it is not certain that he has ever been seen. Most 



102 ANN A I. S OF FORT AIACKINAC. 

of what is known on tliis subject, is derived from lagoo, 
who related, that going out one day with his dogs to hunt, he 
passed through a wide range of thicket, where he lost liis 
dogs. He became muchahirmed, for they were faithful ani- 
mals, and lie was greatly attached to them. He called out, 
and made every exertion to recover them in vain. At length 
he came to a v^pot where lie found them asleep, having in- 
cautiously run near the residence of Weeng. After great ex- 
ertions he aroused them, but not without having felt the 
power of somnolency himself. As he cast his eyes up from 
the place wliere the dogs were lying, lie saw the Spirit of 
Sleep sitting upon the branch of a tree. He was in the shape 
of a giant insect, with many wings from his back, which 
made a low, deep murmuring sound, like distant falling 
water. 

Weeng is also the author of dullness. If an orator fails, he 
is said to be struck by Weeng. If a warrior lingers, he has 
been too near the sleepy god. When children begin to nod 
or yawn, the Indian mother says, "They have been struck 
by Weeng," and puts them to bed. 



ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 103 



The Humpbacked Manitou. 



Bokwewa and his younger brother lived in a sechided part 
of Mackinac Island. They were Manitous, who had assumed 
mortal shapes. Bokwewa was the most gifted in super- 
natural endowments, although he was deformed in person, 
but his brother partook more of the nature of the present 
race of beings. They lived retired fi-oni the world, and un- 
disturbed by its cares. 

Bokwewa, owing to his deformity, was very domestic in 
his habits, and gave his attention to household afi'airs. He 
instiucted his brother in the manner of pursuing game, and 
made him acquainted with all the accomplishments of a 
sagacious and expert hunter. His brother possessed a fine 
form, an active and robust constitution, and felt a disposition 
to show himself among men. He was restive in seclusion, 
and showed a fondness for visiting remote places. 

One day he told his brother that he was going to leave 
him ; that he wished to visit the habitations of men and pro- 
cure a wife. Bokwewa objected to his going ; but his brother 
overruled all that he said, and he finally departed on his trav- 
els. He travelled a long time. At length he fell in with the 
footsteps of men. .They were moving by encampments, for 
he saw several places where they had encamped. It was in 
the winter. He came to a place where one of their number 
had died. They had placed the corpse on a scatfuld. He 
went to it and took it down. He saw that it was the corpse 
of a beautiful young woman. " She shall be my wife !" he 
exclaimed. 

He took her up, and placing her on his back, returned to 



104 



ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 



his brother. " Brother," he said, "cannot you restore her to 
life? Oh, do me that favor !" Bokwewa said he would try. 
He performed numerous ceremonies, and at hist succeeded in 
i-estoring her to life. Tliey lived very happily for some time. 
Bokwewa was extremely kind to his brother, and did every- 
thiug to render his life happy. Beiug deformed and crippled, 
he alwaj's remained at home, while his brother went out to 
hunt. And it was by following his directions, which were 
tjiose of a skilful hunter, that he always succeeded in return- 
ing with a good store of meat. 

One day he had gone out as usual, and Bokwewa was 
sitting in his lodge, on the opposite side of his brother's wife, 
when a tall, fine young man entered, and immediately took 
the woman by the hand and drew her to the door. She 
resisted and called on Bokwewa, who jumped up to her 
assistance. But their joint resistance was unavailing; the 
man succeed in carrying her away. In the scuffle, Bokwewa 
had his humpback much bruised on the stones near the door. 
He crawled into the lodge and we])t very sorely, for he knew 
that it was a powerful Manitou who had taken the woman. 

When his brother letnrned, he related all to him exactly as 
it happened. He wouh! not taste food for several days. 
Sometimes he would fall to weeping for a long time, and 
appeared almost beside himself. At last he said he would go 
in search of her. Bokwewa tried to dissuade him from it, 
but he insisted. 

"Well!" said he, " since you are bent on going, listen to 
my advice. You will have togo south. It isa long distance 
to the residence of your captive wife, and there are so many 
charms and temptations in the way, I am afraid you will be 
led astray by them, and forget your errand. For the people 
whom you will see in that country do nothing but amuse 
themselves. They are very idle, gay, and effieminate, and I 
am fearful they will lead you astray. Your journey is beset 



ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 105 

with difficulties. I will mention one or two things, which 
3-011 must be on your guard against. In the course of your 
journey, you will come to a large grapevine lying across your 
way. You must not even taste its fruit, for it is poisonous. 
Step over it. It is a snake. You will next come to some- 
thing that looks like bear's fat, transparent and tremulous. 
Don't taste it or you will be overcome by the pleasures of 
those people. It is frog's eggs. These are snares laid by the 
way for you." 

He said he would follow the advice, and bid farewell to 
his brother. After travelling a long time, he came to the 
enchanted grape vine. It looked so tempting, he forgot his 
brother's advice and tasted the fruit. He went on till he 
came to the frog's eggs. The substance so much resembled 
bear's fat that he tasted it. He still went on. At length he 
came to a very extensive plain. As he emerged from the 
forest the sun was setting, and cast its scarlet and golden shades 
over all the plain. The air was perfectly calm, and the whole 
prospect had the air of an enchanted land. The most invit- 
ing fruits and flowers spread out before the eye. At a dis- 
tance he beheld a large village, filled with people without 
number, and as he drew near he saw women beating corn in 
silver mortars. When they saw him approaching, they cried 
out, "Bokwewa's brother has come to see us." Throngs of 
men and women gaily dressed, came out to meet him. He 
was soon overcome by their flatteries and pleasures, and he 
was not long afterward seen beating corn with their women 
(the strongest proof of effeminacy), although his wife, for 
whom he had mourned so much, was in that Indian metropolis. 

Meantime, Bokwewa waited patiently for the return of his 
brotlr !'. At length, after the lapse of several years, he set 
out in search of him, and arrived in safety among the luxuri- 
ant people of the South. He met with the same allurements 
on the road, and the same flattering reception that his brother 



106 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

did. But he was above all temptations. The pleasures he 
saw had no otlier effect upon him than to make him i egret 
the weakness of mind of those who were led away by them. 
He shed tears of pity to see that his brother had laid aside the 
arms of a hunter, and was seen beating corn with the women. 

He ascertained where his brother's wife remained. After 
deliberating some time, he went to the river where she usually 
came to draw water. He there changed himself into one of 
those hair snakes which are sometimes seen in running water. 
When slie came down, he spoke to her, saying, " Take me up ; 
I am Bokwewa." She then scooped him out and went home. 
In a short time the Manitou who had taken her away asked 
her for M^ater to drink. She handed him the water contain- 
ing the hair snake, which he drank with the snake, and soon 
after was a dead Manitou. 

Bokwewa then resumed his former shape. He went to his 
brother, and used every means to reclaim him. But he would 
not listen. He was so much taken up with the pleasures and 
dissipations into which he had fallen, that he refused to give 
them up, althoiigli Bokwewa, with tears, tried to convince 
him of his foolishness, and to show him that those pleasures 
could not endure for a long time. Finding that he was past 
reclaiming, Bokwewaleft him and disappeared forever. 



ANNALS OF FORT MACKmAO. 107 



The Stone Canoe. 



There was a very beautiful yonng girl, who died sud- 
denly on the day she was to have been married to a hand- 
Bome young man. He was also brave bnt his heart was not 
proof against this loss. From the hour she was buried, tliei-e 
was no more joy or peace for him. He went often to visit 
the spot where the women had buried her, and sat musing 
there, when, it was thought by some of his friends, he would 
have done better to try to amuse himself in the chase, or on 
the war-path. But war and hunting had lost their charms. 
His heart was already dead within him. He pushed aside 
his war-club and his bow and arrows. 

He had heard the old people sa}' that there was a path that 
led to the land of souls and he determined to follow it. He 
accordingly set out one morning, after having completed his 
preparations for the journe}'. At first he hardly knew which 
way to go. He was only guided by the tradition that he 
must go south. For a while he could see no change in the 
face of the country. Forests, and hills, and valleys, and 
sti-eams had the same looks which they wore in his native 
place. There was snow on the ground when he set out, and 
it was sometimes seen to be piled and matted on the thick 
trees and bushes. At length it began to diminish, and finally 
disappeared. The forest assumed a more cheerful appear- 
ance, and the leaves put forth their buds, and before he was 
aware of the completeness of the change, he found himself 
surrounded by spring. He had left behind him the land of 
snow and ice. The air became mild ; the dark clouds of win- 
ter had rolled away from the sky ; a pure field of blue was 



108 ANXALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

above him, and as he went he saw flowers beside his path, 
and heard the songs of birds. By tliese signs he knew that 
he was -oing the right wa}', for they agreed with the tradi- 
tions ( L his tribe. At length he spied a path. It led him 
through a grove, then up a long and elevated ridge, on the 
very top of which he came to a lodge. At the door stood an 
oKl man with white hair, whose eyes, though deeply sunk, 
had a fiery bi-illiancy. He had a long robe of skins thrown 
loosely around his shoulders, and a statl in his hands. It was 
Cliebiabos. 

The young Chippewa began to tell his story ; but the ven- 
erable chief arrested him before lie had proceeded to speak 
ten words. "I have expected you," he replied, "and had 
just risen to bid you welcome to my abode. She whom you 
seek passed here but a few days since, and being fatigued 
with her journey, rested herself here. Enter my lodge and be 
seated, and 1 will, then satisfy your inquiries, and give you 
directions for your journey from this point." Having done 
this they both issued forth to the lodge door. " You see 
yonder gulf," said he, "and the wide stretching blue plains 
beyond. It is the land of souls. You stand upon itsbordei-s, 
and my lodge is the gate of entrance. But you cannot take 
your body along. Leave it here with your bow and arrows, 
your bundle and your dog. You will find tlicm safe on your 
]-eturn." So saying, he re-entered the lodge, and the freed 
traveller bounded forward as if his feet had suddenly been 
endowed with the power of wings. But all things retained 
their natural colors and shapes. The woods and leaves, and 
streams and lakes, were only more bright and comely than he 
had ever witnessed. Animals bounded across his path with 
a freedom and a confidence which seemed to tell iiim there 
was no blood shed here. Birds of beautiful plumage inhab- 
ited the groves and sported in the waters. There was but 
one thing in which he saw a very unusual efEcct. He noticed 



ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 109 

tliat his passage was not stopped b}' trees or other objects. 
He appeared to walk directly through them. They were, in 
fact, but the souls or shadows of niatei'ial trees. He became 
sensible that he was in a land of shadows. When he had 
travelled half a day's journey, through a country which was 
continually becoming more attractive, he came to the banks 
of a broad lake, in the center of which was ;. large and beau- 
tiful island. He found a canoe of shining white stone, tied 
to the shore. He was now sure that he had come the right 
path, for the aged man had told him of this. There were 
also shining paddles. He immecliately entered the canoe and 
took the paddles in his hands, when to his joy and surprise, 
on turning round, he beiiold the object of his search in an- 
other canoe, exactly its counterpart in everything. She had 
exactly imitated his motions, and they were side by side. 
They at once pushed out from the shore and began to cross the 
lake. Its waves seemed to be rising, and at a distance looked 
ready to swallow them up ; but just as they entered the 
whitened etige of them they seemed to melt away, as if they 
were but the images of waves. But no sooner was one wreath 
of foam passed, than another, more threatening still, rose up. 
Thus they were in perpetual fear ; and what added to it, was 
the clearness of the %oate'i\ through which they could see heaps 
of beings who had perished before, and whose bones lay 
strewed on tlie bottom of the lake. The Master of Life had, 
however, decreed to let them pass, for the actions of neither 
of them had been bad. But they saw many others struggling 
and sinking in the waves. Old men and young men, males 
and females of all ages and ranks were there ; some passed 
and some sank. It was only the little children whose canoes 
'seemed to meet fio waves. At length, every difficulty was 
gone, as in a moment, and they both leaped out on the happy 
island. They felt that the very air was food. It strength- 
ened and nourished them. They wandered together over the 



110 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

blissful fields, where every tiling was formed to please the eye 
and the eai-. There were no tempests — there was no ice, no 
chilly winds — no one suffered for the want of warm clothes; 
no one suffered for hunger — no one mourned the dead. They 
saw no graves. They heard of no wars. There was no hunt- 
ing of animals, — the air itself was their food. Gladly would 
the young warrior have remained there forever, but he 
was obliged to go back for his body. He did not see the 
Master of Life, but he heard His voice in a soft breeze. " Go 
back," said this voice, "to the land from whence you came. 
Your time has not yet come. The duties for which I made 
you, and which you are to perform, are not yet finished. 
Return to your people and accomplish the duties of a good 
man. You will be the ruler of your tribe for many days. 
The rules you must observe will be told you by my messen- 
ger, who keeps the gate. When he surrenders back your 
body, he will tell you what to do. Listen to him, and you 
shall afterwards rejoin the spirit, which you must now leave 
behind. She is accepted, and will be ever here, as young 
and as happy as she was when I first called her from the land 
of snow, hunger and tears." 



ANNALS OF FOltT MACKINAC. Ill 



The Enchanted Moccasins. 



On Mackinac Island there lived a little boy, alone with his 
older orphan sister. They saw beasts, and birds, the sky 
above and the earth beneath, and the waters around them, 
but there were no human beings beside themselves. The boy 
often retired to think, in lone places, and the opinion was 
formed that he had supernatural powers. She supposed that 
he would perform some extraordinary exploits, and he was 
called Onwe Bahmondoong, or He that carries a Ball on 
his Back. As he grew up he was impatient to know whether 
there were any other human beings ; she replied that there 
were, but they lived in a remote distance. There was a large 
village of hunters and warriors. Being now well giown, he 
determined to seek his fortune, and asked her to make him 
several pairs of moccasins to last him on the journey. With 
this request she complied. Then taking his bow and arrows, 
and his war club, and a little sack containing his nawappo^ 
or travelling victuals, he immediately set out on his journey, 
tie travelled on, not knowing exactly where he went. Hills, 
plains, trees, rocks, forests, meadows, spread before him. 
Sometimes he killed an animal, sometimes a bird. The deer 
often started in his path. He saw the fox, the bear and the 
ground-hog. The eagles screamed above him. The ducks 
chattered in the ponds and lakes. He lay down and slept 
when he was tired, he rose up when he was refreshed. At 
last he came to a small wigwam, and, on looking into it, dis- 
covered a very old woman sitting alone by the fire. As soon 
as she saw the stranger, she invited him in, and thus addressed 
liim : '* My poor grandchild, I suppose you are one of those 



112 ANNALS OF FOKT MACKINAC. 

who seek for the distant village, from wjiicli no person has 
ever .yet returned. Unless your guardian is more powerful 
than the guardian of your predecessors, you too will share a 
similar fate of theirs. Be careful to provide yourself with 
the Ozhebahguhnun — the bones they use in the medicine 
dance — without which you cannot succeed." After she had 
thus spoken, she gave him the following directions for his 
journc}'. " When you come near to the viUage which you 
seek, you will see in the center a large lodge, in wliicii the 
chief of the village, who has two daughters, resides. Before 
the door you will see a great tree, which is smooth and des- 
titute of bark. On this tree, about the height of a man from 
the ground, a small lodge is suspended, in which these two 
daughters dwell. It is here so many have l)ccu destroyed. 
Be wise, my grandchild and abide strictly by my directions." 
The old woman then gave him the Ozliebaligulimin, which 
would cause his success. Placing them in his busom, he con- 
tinued his journey, till at lengtli he an-ived at the songht-for 
villiige ; ami, as he was gazing around him, he saw both the 
tree and the lodge which the old woman had mentioned. 
Immediately he bent his steps foi- tlie tree, and a|)|)i'oaching, 
he endeavored to reach the suspended lodge. But all his ef- 
forts weVe vain ; for as often as he attempted to reach it, the 
tree began to tremble, and soon shot up so that the lodge could 
hardly be perceived. Foiled as he was in all his attempts, he 
thought of his guardian and changed himself into a small 
squirrel, that he might more easily accomplish his design. 
He then mounted the tree in quest of the lodge. After 
climbing for some time, he became fatigued, and panted foi- 
breath ; but, remembering the instructions which the old 
woman had given him, he took from his bosom one of the 
bones, and thrust it into the trunk of the tree on which he 
sat. In this way he quickl}' found relief; and, as often as 
he became fatigued he repeated this; but whenever he came 



ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 113 

near the lodge and attempted to toncli it the tree would shoot 
up as before, and place the lodge beyond his reach. At 
length, the bones being exhausted, he began to despair, for 
the earth had long since vanished from his sight. Suuinion- 
ing all resolution he determined to make another effort to 
reach the object of his wishes. On he went ; yet, as soon as 
he came near the lodge and attempted to touch it, the tree 
again sliook, but it had reached the arch of heaven and could 
go no higher; so now he entered the lodge and beheld the 
two sisters sitting opposite each other. He asked their numes. 
The one on his left hand called herself Azhabee,* and the 
one on the right Negahnahbee.f Whenever he addressed 
the one on his left hand, the tree would tremble as before 
and settle down to its former position. But when he ad- 
dressed the one on his right hand, it would again shoot up- 
ward as before. When he thus discovered that, by address- 
ing the one on his left hand, the tree would descend, he con- 
tinued to do so until it had resumed its former position ; then 
seizing his war club he thus addressed the sisters: "You, 
who have caused the death of so many of my brothers, 1 will 
now put an end to, and thus have revenge for the numbers 
you have destroyed." As he said this he raised the club and 
laid them dead at his feet. He then descended, and learning 
that these sisters had a brother living with their father, who 
would pursue him for the deed he had done, he set off at ran- 
dom, not knowing whither he went. Soon after the father 
and mother of the young women visited their lodge and 
found their remains. They immediately told their son, Mud- 
jikewis, that his sisters had been slain. He replied, "The 
person who has done this must be the Boy that carries the 
Ball on his Back. I will pursue him and have revenge for 
the blood of my sisters." " It is well, my son," replied the 
father. "The spirit of your life grant you success. I coun- 

*One who sits beliiud. f One who sits before. 



Hi ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

sel you to be wary in the pursuit. It is a strong spirit who 
has done this injury to us, and he will try to deceive you in 
every way. Above all, avoid tasting food till you succeed; 
for if you break your fast before you see his blood your power 
will be destroyed." 

His son instantly set out in search of the murderer, who, 
finding he was closely pursued by the brother of the slain, 
climbed up into one of the tallest trees and shot forth his 
magic arrows. Finding that his pursuer was not turned back 
by his arrows, he renewed his flight ; and when he found 
himself hard pressed, and his enemy close behind him, he 
transformed himself into the skeleton of a moose that had 
been killed, whose flesh had come off from his bones. He 
then remembered the moccasins which his sister iiad given 
him, which were enchanted. Taking a pair of them, he 
placed them near the skeleton. "Go," said he to them, "to 
the end of the earth." 

The moccasins then left him and their tracks remained. 
Mudjikewis at length came to the skeleton of the moose, when 
he perceived that the track he had long been pursuing did 
not end there, so he continued to follow it up, till he came to 
the end of the earth, where he found only a pair of moccasins. 
Mortified that he had been outwitted by following a pair of 
moccasins instead of the object of his revenge, he bitterly 
complained, resolving not to give up the pursuit, and to be 
more wary and wise in scrutinizing signs. He then called to 
mind tlie skeleton he met on his way, and concluded that it 
must be the object of his search. He retraced his steps to- 
wards the skeleton, but found, to his surprise, that it had dis- 
appeared, and the tracks of Onwe Bahviondoong, or He 
who carries the Ball, were in another direction. He now be- 
came faint with hunger, and resolved to give up the pursuit; 
but when he remembered the blood of his sisters, he deter- 
mined again to pursue. 



ANXALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 115 

The other, finding he was closely pursued, now changed 
himself into a very old man with two daughters, who lived 
in a large lodge in the center of a beautiful garden, which 
was filled with everything that could delight the eye or 
was pleasant to the taste. He made himself appear so 
very old as to be unable to leave his lodge, and had his daugh- 
ters to bring him food and wait on him. The garden also 
had the appearance of ancient occupancy, and was highly 
cultivated. 

His pursuer continued on till he was nearly starved and 
ready to sink. He exclaimed, "Oh I I will forget the blood 
of my sisters, for 1 am starving ;" but again he thought of 
the blood of his sisters, and again he resolved to pursue, and 
be satisfied with nothing but his revenge. 

He went on till he came to the beautiful garden. He ap. 
proached the lodge. As soon as the daughters of the owner 
perceived him, they ran and told their father that a stranger 
approached the lodge. Their father replied, " Invite him in, 
my children, invite him in." They quickly did so; and by 
the command of their father, they boiled some corn and pre- 
pared other savory food. Mudjikewis had no suspicion of 
the deception. He was faint and weary with travel, and felt 
that he could endure fasting no longer. Without hesitancy, 
he partook heartily of the meal, and in so doing was overcome. 
All at once he seemed to forget the blood of his sisters, and 
even the village of his nativity. He ate so heartily as to pro- 
duce drowsiness, and soon fell into a profound sleep. On we 
Bahmondoong watched his opportunity, and, as soon as he 
found his slumbers sound, resumed his youthful form. He 
then drew the magic ball from his back, which turned out to 
be a heavy war club, with one blow of which he put an end 
to his pursuer and thus vindicated his title as, — Wearer of 
the Magic Ball. 



116 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 



The Giant Bear. 



In a remote part of tlie north lived a great magician called 
lamo, and his only sister. Seldom, if ever, had the man any 
cause to go from home; for, as his wants demanded food, he 
had only to go a little distance from the lodge, and there, in 
some ]^articular spot, place his arrows, with their barbs in 
the ground. Telling his sister where they had been placed, 
every morning she would go in search, and never fail of 
finding each struck through the heart of a deer. She had 
then only to drag them into the lodge and prepare their food. 
Thus she lived till she attained womanhood, when one day 
her brother said to her, " Sister, the time is near at hand 
when I must undergo a period of enchantment. Listen to 
my advice. If you do not, it will probably be the cause of 
ray death." 

He then laid aside his hunting dress and accoutrements, 
and soon after both his feet began to inflame and turn black, 
so that he could not move. StUl he directed his sister where 
to place the arrows, that she might always have food. The 
inflammation continued to increase, and had now reached his 
first rib ; and he said, " Sister, my end is near. You must do as 
I tell you. You see ray medicine-sack, and ray war-club 
tied to it. It contains all ray raedicines, and ray war-plumes, 
and ray paints of all colors. As soon as the inflamraation 
reaches ray breast, you will take ray war-club. It lias a 
sharp point, and you will cut off ray head. When it is free 
from ray body, take it, place its neck in the sack, which you 
ninst open at one end. Tiien hang it up in its former place. 
Do not forget ray bow and arrows. One of the last you 



ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 117 

will take to procure food. The remainder tie to ray sack, 
and then hanoj it up, so that^ I can look towards the door. 
Now and then I will speak to you, but not often." His sis- 
ter promised to obey. 

In a little time his breast was affected. "Now," said he, 
" take the club and strike oft" my head." She was afraid, but 
he told her to muster courage. ''''Strike^'' said he, and a 
smile was on his face. Mustering all her courage, she gave 
the blow and cut off the head. " Now," said the head, 
"place me where 1 told you." And fearfully she obeyed it 
in all its commands. Retaining its animation, it looked 
around the lodge as usual, and it would command its sister 
to go to such places as would procure for her the flesh of 
different animals she needed. One day the head said, " The 
time is not distant when I shall be freed from this situation, 
but I shall have to undergo many sore evils. So the Superior 
Manitou decrees, and I must bear all patiently." In this 
situation we must leave the head. 

In a certain part of the country was a village inhabited by 
a numerous and warlike band of Indians. In this village 
was a family of ten j'oung men — brothers. It was in the 
spring of the year that the youngest of these blackened his 
face and fasted. His dreams were propitious. Having ended 
his fast, he sent secretly for his brothers at night, so that none 
in the village could overhear or find out the direction they 
intended to go Having ended the usual formalities, he told 
them how favorable his dreams were, and that he had called 
them together to know if they would accompany him on a war 
excursion. They all answered they would. The third broth- 
er from the eldest, noted for his oddities, coming upAvith his 
war-club when his brother had ceased speaking, jumped up, 
" Yes," said he, "/will go, and this will be the way I will treat 
those we are going to fight ;" and he struck the post in the cen- 
ter of the lodge, and gave a yell. The others spoke to hira, 



118 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

saying, " Slow, slow, Mndjekeewis, when you are in other 
people's lodges." The youngest told them not to whisper 
their intention .even to their wives, bat secretly to prepare 
for their jonrney. They all promised obedience, and Mndj- 
ekeewis was the first to say so. 

The time for their departure drew near. Word was given 
to assemble on a certain night, when they would depart im- 
mediately. Mndjekeewis was loud in his demands for his 
moccasins. Several times his wife asked him the reason. 
" Besides," said she, "you have a good pair on." "Quick, 
quick," he said, "since you must know, we are going on a 
war excursion. So be quick." He thus revealed the secret. 
That night they met and started. Tiie snow was on the 
ground, and they travelled all night, lest others should foUlow 
them. When it was daylight, the leader took snow and 
made a ball of it; then tossing it into the air, he said, "It 
was in this way I saw snow fall in my dream, so that I could 
not be tracked." And he told thom to keep close to each 
other for fear of losing tiiemselves, as the snow began to fall 
in very large flakes. Near as they walked, it wa.s with ditti- 
culty they could see each other. The snow continued falling 
all that day and the following night. 

They had now walked for several days, and Mndjekeewis 
was always in the rear. One day, running suddenly forward, 
he gave the Saw-Saw-quan* and with his wai--club struck 
a tree, which broke into pieces as if struck by lightning, 
" Brothers," said he, " this will be the way I will serve those 
whom we are going to fight." The leader answered, " Slow, 
slow, Mndjekeewis. The one I lead you to is not to be 
thought of so lightly " Again he fell back and thought to 
himself, "Who can this be he is leading us to ?" He felt 
fearful, and was silent. Day after day they travelled on, till 
they came to an extensive plain, on the borders of which 

* War-ory. 



ANNALS OF IJORT MACKINAC. 119 

human bones were bleaching in the sun. The leader spoke, 
"They are the bones of those who have gone before us. 
No one has ever returned to tell the sad tale of their fate." 
Again Miidjekeewis became restless, and, running forward, 
gave the accustomed yell. Advancing to a large rock which 
stood above the ground, he struck it, and it fell to pieces. 
"See, brothers," said he, "thus will I treat those whom we 
are going to fight." " Still, still," once more said the leader ; 
"he to whom I am leading you is not to be compared to that 
rock." 

Mudjekeewis fell back quite thoughtful, saying to himself, 
" I wonder who this can be that he is going to attack." He 
was afraid. Still they continued to see the remains of former 
warriors, who had been to the place where they were now 
going, some of whom had retreated as far back as the place 
where they first saw the bones, beyond which no one had 
ever escaped. At last they came to a piece of rising ground, 
from which they plainly distinguished, sleeping on a distant 
mountain, a mammoth bear. 

The distance between them was great, but the size of the 
animal caused him plainly to be seen. " There," said the 
leader, "it is he to whom I am leading you ; here our troubles 
only will commence, for he is a Manitou. It is he who has 
the wampum we prize so dearly, to obtain which, the warriors 
whose bones we saw sacrificed their lives. You must not be 
fearful. Be manly. We shall find him asleep." They 
advanced boldly till they came near, when they stopped to 
view him more closely. He was asleep. Then the leader 
went forward and touched the belt around the animal's neck. 
•'This," he said, "is what we must get. It contains tlie 
wampum." They then requested the eldest to try and slip 
the belt over the bear's head, who appeared to be fast asleep, 
as he was not in the least disturbed b^' the attempt to obtain 
it. All their eSorts were in vain, till it came to the one next 



120 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

the youngest. He tried, and the belt moved nearly over the 
monster's head, but he could get it no further. Tiien the 
youngest one and leader'made liis attempt, and succeeded. 
Placing it on the back of the oldest, he said, "Now we must 
run," and off they started. When one became fatigued with 
its weight, another would relieve him. Thus they ran till 
they had passed the bones of all former warriors, and were 
some distance beyond, when, looking back, they saw the 
monster slowly rising. He stood some time before he missed 
his wampum. Soon they heard his tremendous howl, like 
distant tiiunder, slowly filling all the sky; and then they 
heard him speak and say, "Who can it be that has dared to 
steal my wampum? Earth is not so large but that I can find 
them." And he descended from the hill in pursuit. As if 
convulsed, the earth shook with every jump he made. Yery 
soon he approached the party. They however kept the belt, 
exchanging it from one to another, and encouraging each 
other. But he gained on them fast. " Brothers," said the 
leader, " has never any one of you, when fasting, dreamed of 
some friendly spirit who would aid you as a guardian?" A 
dead silence followed. " Well," said he, " fasting, I dreamed 
of being in danger of instant death, when I saw a small lodge, 
with smoke curling from its top. An old man lived in it, 
and I dreamed he helped me. And may it be verified soon," 
he said, running forward and giving the peculiar yell, and a 
howl as if the sounds came from the depths of his stomach, 
and which is called Checaudum. Getting upon a piece of 
rising ground, behold ! a lodge, with smoke curling from its 
top, appeared. This gave them all new strength, and the}' 
ran forward and entered it. The leader spoke to the old man 
who sat in the lodge saying, ''^Nemesho* help us. We claim 
your protection, for the great bear will kill us." " Sit down 
and eat, my grandchildren," said the old n)an. " Who is a 

* My grandfather. 



ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 121 

great Maniton?" said he, "there is none but me; but let me 
look," and he opened the door of the lodge, when lo! at a 
little distance he saw the enraged animal corning on, with 
slow but powerful leaps. He closed the door. "Yes," said 
he, "A^ is indeed a great Maniton. Mj grandchildren, you 
will be the cause of my lo.siiig mj' life. You asked my pro- 
tection, and I granted it ; so now come what may, I will pro- 
tect you. When the bear arrives at the door, you must run 
out of the other end of the lodge." Then putting his hand 
to the side of the lodge where he sat, he brought out a bag, 
which he opened. Taking out two small black dogs, he 
placed them before him. "These are the ones T use wlien T 
light," said he; and he commenced patting, with both hands, 
the sides of one of them, and it began to swell out, so that 
it soon filled the lodge by ita bulk. And it had great 
strono; teeth. When it attained its full size it o-rowled, and 
at that moment, as from instinct, it jumped out at the 
door and met the bear, who in anorher leap would have 
reached the lodge. A terrible combat ensued. The skies 
rang with the liowls of the fierce monsters. The remaining 
dog soon took the held. The brothers, at the onset, touk tlie 
advice of the old man, and escaped through the opposite side 
of the lodge. They had not proceeded far before they heai'd 
the dying cry of one of the dogs, and soon after of the other. 
•'Well," said the leader, "the old man will -share their fate; 
^^o run, run, he will soon be after us." They started with 
fresh vigor, for they had received food from the old man; 
but very soon the bear came in sight, and 'again was fast 
gaining upon them. Again the leader asked the brothers if 
they could do nothing for their safety. All were silent. 
The leader, rutming forward, did as before. " I dreamed," 
he cried, "that, being in great trouble, an old man helped me 
who was a Manitou. We shall soon see his lodge." Taking 
courage, they still went on. After going a short distance 



122 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

they saw the lodge of the old Manitou. They entered 
immediately and claimed his protection, telling him a Man- 
itou was after them. The old man, setting meat before them, 
said, "Eat; — who is a Manitou? there is no Manitou but me. 
There is none whom I fear." And the earth trem])led as the 
monster advanced. The old man opened the door and saw 
him coming. He shut it slowly, and said, " Yes, my grand- 
children, you have brought trouble upon me." Procuring 
his medicine sack, he took out his small war-clubs of black 
stone, and told the young men to run through the other side 
of the lodge. As he handled tlie clubs they became very 
large, and the old man stepped out just as the bear reached 
the door. Then striking liim with one of the clubs, it broke 
in pieces. The bear stumbled. Renewing the attempt with 
the other war-club, that also was broken, but the bear fell 
senseless. Each blow the old man gave him sounded like a 
clap of thunder, and the howls of the bear ran along till they 
filled the heavens. 

The young men had now run some distance, when they 
looked back. They could see that the bear was recovering 
from the blows. First he moved his paws, and soon they saw 
him rise on his feet. The old man shared the fate of the 
first, for they now heard his cries as he was torn in pieces. 
Again the monster was in pursuit, and fast overtaking them. 
Not yet discouraged, the young men kept on their way ; but 
the bear was now so close, that the leader once more applied 
to his brothers, but the}' could do nothing. " Well," said 
he, ''my dreams will soon be exhausted. After this I have 
but one more." He advanced, invoking his guardian spirit. 
to aid him. " Once," said he, " I dreamed that, being sorely 
pressed, I came to -a large lake, on the shore of which was a 
canoe, partly out of water, having ten paddles all in readi- 
ness. Do not fear," he cried, " we shall soon get to it." And 
80 it was, even as he had said. Coming to a lake, they saw 



ANNALS OF FORT MAOKINAO. 123 

the canoe with ten paddles, and immediately they embarked. 
Scarcely had they reached the centre of the lake, when they 
saw the bear arrive at its borders. Lifting himself on his 
hind legs, he looked all around. Then he waded into the 
water; then losing his footing, he turned back, and com- 
menced making tiie circuit of the lake. Meanwhile, the 
party remained stationary in the centre to watch his move- 
ments. He traveled around, till at last he came to the place 
from whence he started. Then he commenced drinking up 
the water, and they saw the current fast setting in towards 
his open mouth. The leader encouraged them to paddle 
hard for the opposite shore. When only a short distance 
from land, the current had increased so much, that they were 
drawn back by it, and all their elf orts to reach it were in vain. 

Tiien the leader again spoke, telling them to meet their 
fates manfully. " Now is the time, JVIudjekeewis," said he, 
" to show your prowess. Take courage, and sit in the bow 
of the canoe ; and when it approaches his mouth, try what 
effect your club will have on his head." He obeyed, and 
stood ready to give the blow ; while the leader, who steered, 
directed the canoe for the open mouth of the monster. 

Rapidly advancing, they were just about to enter his 
mouth, when Mudjekeewis struck him a tremendous blow on 
the head, and gave the saw-saw-quan. The l)ear's limbs 
doubled under him, and he fell stunned by the blow. But 
before Mudjekeewis could renew it, the monster disgorged 
all the water he had drunk, with a force which sent the canoe 
with great velocity to the opposite shore. Instantly leaving 
the canoe, again they fled, and on they went till they were 
completely exhausted. The earth again shook, and soon they 
saw the monster hard after them. Tiieir spirits drooped, 
and they felt discouraged. The leader exerted himself, by 
actions and words, to cheer them up ; and once more he asked 
them if they thought of nothing, or could do nothing for 



124 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

their rescue ; and, as before, all were silent. " Then," lie 
said, "this is the last time I can apply to my guardian spirit. 
Now if we do not succeed, our fates are decided." He ran 
forward, invoking his spirit with great earnestness, and gave 
the yell. "We shall soon arrive," said he to his brothers, 
"to the place where my last guardian spirit dwells. In him 
I place great confidence. Do not, do not be afraid, or your 
limbs will be fear-bound. We shall soon reach his lodge. 
Run, run," he cried. 

They were now in sight of the lodge of Tamo, the magician 
of the undying head — of that great magician whose life had 
been the forfeit of a kind of necromantic leprosy. This lodge 
was the sacred spot of expected relief to which they had been 
fleeing, from the furious rage of the giant bear, who had 
been robbed of her precious boon, the niagissauniqua. 

In the mean time, the undying head of lanio had remained 
in the medicine sack, suspended on the sides of his wigwam, 
where his sister had placed it, with its mystic charms, and 
feathers, and arrows. This head retained all life and vitality, 
keeping its eyes open, and directing its sister, in order to 
procure food, where to place the magic arrows, and speaking 
at long intervals. One day the sister saw the eyes of the 
head brigiiten, as if through pleasure. At last it spoke. 
"Oh! sister," it said, "in what a pitiful situation I am. 
Soon, very soon, a party of young men will arrive and apply 
to me for aid ; but, alas! how can I give what I would have 
done with so much pleasure. Nevertiieless, take two arrows, 
and place them where you have been in the habit of placing 
tlie others, and have meat prepared and cooked before they 
arrive. When you hear them coming and calling on ray 
name, go out and say, 'Alas! it is long ago that an accident 
befell him.' If they still come near, ask them in and set 
meat before them. And now you must follow my directions 
strictly. When the bear is near, go out and meet him. You 



ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 125 

will take my medicine sack, bows and arrows, and my head. 
You must then untie the sack, and spread out before you my 
paints of all colors, my war eagle feathers, my tiifts of dried 
hair, and whatever else it contains. As the bear approaches, 
you will take all these articles, one by one, and say to him, 
* This is my deceased brother's paint,' and so on with all the 
other articles, throwing each of them as far from you as you 
can. The virtues contained in them will cause him to totter; 
and, to complete his destruction, 3'ou will take my head, and 
that, too, you will cast as far off as you can, crying aloud, 
' See, this is my deceased brother's head.' He will then fall 
senseless. By this time the young men will have eaten, and 
you will call them to your assistance. You must then cut 
the carcass into pieces, yes, into small pieces, and scatter them 
to the four winds; for, unless you do this, he will again 
revive." She promised that all should be done as he said. 
She had only time to prepare the meat, when the voice of 
the leader was heard calling upon lamo for aid. The woman 
iwent out and invited tliem in a? her brother had directed. 
But the war party, being closely pursued, came promptly up 
to the lodge. She invited them in, and placed the meat 
before them. While they were eating, they heard the bear 
approaching. Untying the medicine sack and taking the 
head, she had all in readiness for his approach. When he 
came up, she did as she had been told. " Behold, Mishiina- 
kwa," she cried, "this is the meda sack of lamo. These are 
war eagle's feathers of lamo (casting them aside.) These are 
magic arrows of lamo (casting them down.) These are tjie 
sacred paints and magic charms of lamo. These are dried 
tufts of the hair of furious beasts. And this (swinging it 
with all her might) is his undying head." The monster 
began to totter, as she cast one thing, after the other on the 
ground, but still recovering strength, came close up to the 
woman till she flung the head. As the head rolled along the 



126 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

ground, the bear, tottering, fell with a tremendous noise. 
Then she cried for help, and the young men came rushing 
out, having partially regained their strength and spirits. 

Mudjekeewis, stepping up, gave a yell, and struck the 
monster a blow upon the head. This he repeated till it 
seemed like a mass of brains; while the others, as quick as 
possible, cut him into very small pieces, which the^ then 
scattered in every direction. While thus employed, happen- 
ing to look around where they had thrown the meat, wonder- 
ful to behold ! they saw, starting up and running oft" in every 
direction, small black bears, such as are seen at the present 
day. The country was soon overspread with these black 
animals. And it was from this monster that the present 
race of bears, the makwas, derived their origin. 

Having thus overcome their pursuer, they returned to the 
lodge. In the mean time, the woman, gathering the imple- 
ments she had scattered, and the head, placed them again in 
the sack. 

The war party were now triumphant, but they did not 
know what use to make of their triumph. Having spent so 
much time, and traversed so vast a country in their flight, 
the young men gave up the idea of ever returning to their 
own countrj', and game being plenty, they determined to re- 
main where they now were, and make tliis their home. One 
day they moved oft some distance from the lodge for the 
purpose of hunting, having left the wampum captur.ed with 
the woman. They were very successful, and amused them- 
selyes, as all young men do when alone, by talking and jest- 
ing with each other. One of them said, " We have all this 
sport to ourselves ; let us go and ask our sister if she will 
not let us bring the head to this place, as it is still alive. It 
may be pleased to hear us talk and be in our company. In 
the mean time, we will take food to our sister." They went, 
and requested the head. She told them to take it, and they 



ANNALS OF FORT MACK[NAC. 127 

took it to their hunting-grounds, and tried to amuse it, but 
only at times did they see its eyes beam with pleasure. One 
day, while busy in their encampment, they were unexpectedly 
attacked by unknown Indians. The skirmish was long con 
tested and bloody. Many of their foes were slain, but still 
they were thirty to one. The young men fought desperately 
till they were all killed. The attacking party then retreated 
to a height of ground, to muster their men, and to count the 
number of missing and slain. One of their young men had 
strayed awa}', and, in endeavoring to overtake them, came 
to the place where the undying head was hung up. Seeing 
that alone retain animation, he eyed it for some time with 
fear and surprise. However, he took it down and opened 
the sack, and was much pleased to see the beautiful feathers, 
one of which he placed on his head. 

Starting off, it waved gracefully over him till he reached 
his party, when he threw down the head and sack, and told 
them how he had found it, and that the sack was full of 
paints and feathers. They all looked at the head and made 
sport of it. Numbers of the young men took up the paint 
and painted themselves, and one of 'the party took the head 
by the hair and said, " Look, you ugly thing, and see your 
paints on the faces of warriors." But the feathers were so 
beautiful, that numbers of them also placed them on their 
heads. Then again they used all kinds of indignity to the 
head, for which they were in turn repaid by the death of 
those who had used the feathers. Then the chief commanded 
them to throw all away except the head. " We will see," 
said he, " when we get home, what we can do to it. We 
will try to make it shut its eyes." 

When they reached their homes they took it to the council 
lodge, and hung it up before the fire, fastening it with raw 
hide soaked, which would shrink and become tightened by 



128 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

the action of the fire. "We will tlien see," they said, "if 
we cannot make it shut its eyes." 

Meanwhile, for several davs, the sister of laino had been 
waiting for tlie young men to bring back the head ; till at 
last, getting impatient, she went in search of it. The yonni; 
men she found lying within short distances of each other, 
dead, and covered with wounds. Various other bodies lay 
scattered in different directions around thorn. She searched 
for tlie head and sack, but they were nowhere to be found. 
She raised lier voice and wept, and blackened her face. Then 
she walked in different directions, till she came to the place 
from whence the head had been taken. There slie found 
the magic bow and arrows, where the young men, iguoi-anr 
of their qualities, had left them. She thought to herself 
that she would find her brother's head, and going to a piece 
of rising ground, there saw some of his paints and feath- 
ers. Tiiese she carefully }>ut up, and hung upon the branch 
of a tree until her return. 

At dusk she arrived at the first lodge of the enemy, in a 
very extensive village. Here she used a charm, common 
among Indians when thfey wish to meet with a kind recep- 
tion. On applying to the old man and woman of the lodge, 
siie was kindly received. She made known her errand. The 
old man promised to aid her, and told her that the head was 
hung up before the council fire, and that the chiefs of the 
village, with their young men, kept watch over it continually. 
The former are considered as Mauitous. She said she only 
wished to see it, and would be satisfied if she could only get 
to the door of the lodge. She knew she had not snfiicient 
power to take it by force. " Come with me," said the Indian, 
" I will take you there." They went, and they took tiieir 
seats near the door. The council lodge was filled with war- 
riors, amusing themselves with games, and constantly keep- 
ing up a fire to smoke the head, as they said, to make dry 



ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 129 

meat. They saw the eyes move, and not knowing wliat to 
make of it, one spoke and said, " Ha ! ha ! it is beginning to 
feel the effects of the smoke." The sister looked up from 
tlie door, and as her eyes met those of her brother, tear^ 
rolled down the cheeks of the undying head. "Well," said 
the chief, " I thought we would make you do something at 
last. Look ! look at it — shedding tears," said he to those 
around him ; and they all laughed and passed their jokes 
upon it. The chief, looking around and observing the 
woman, after some time said to the old man who came with 
her, " Who have you got there ? I have never seen that 
woman before in our village." " Yes," replied the man, 
"you have seen her; she is a relation of mine, and seldom 
goes out. She stays in my lodge, and asked me to allow her 
to come with me to this place." In the centre of the lodge 
sat one of those vain young men who are always forward, 
and fond of boasting and displaying themselves before others. 
"Why," said he, "1 have seen her often, and it is to his 
lodge I go almost every night to court her." All the others 
laughed and continued their games. The young man did 
not know he was telling a lie to the woman's advantage, who 
by that means escaped scrutiny. 

She returned to the old man's lodge, and immediately set 
out for her own country. Coming to the spot where the 
bodies of her adopted brothers lay, she placed them together, 
their feet toward the east. Then taking an axe which she 
had, she cast it up into the air, crying out, " Brothers, get 
up from under it, or it will fall on you." This she re- 
peated three times, and the third time the brothers all arose 
and stood on their feet. 

Mudjekeewis commenced rubbing his eyes and stretching- 
himself. "Why," said he, "I have overslept myself." "No. 
indeed," said one of the others, " do you not know we were 
all killed, and that our sister has brought us to life V The 



130 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

young men took the bodies of their enemies and butmed 
them. Soon after the sister went to procure wives for them, 
in a distant country, they knew not where ; but she returned 
with ten young females, which she gave to tlie young men, 
beginning with the eldest. Mudjekeewis stepped to and fro, 
uneasy lest he should not get the one he liked. But he was 
not disappointed, for she fell to his lot, and the}' were well 
matched, for she was a magician. They then all moved into 
a very large lodge, and their sister lamoqua told them that 
the women must now take turns in going to her brother's 
head every night, trying to untie it. They all said they 
would do so with pleasure. The eldest made the first 
attempt, and with a rushing noise she fled through the air. 

Towards daylight she returned. She had been unsuccess- 
ful, as she succeeded in untying only one of the knots. All 
took their turns regularly, and each one succeeded in untying 
only one knot eacli time. But when the youngest went, she 
commenced the work as soon as she reached the lodge; 
although it had always been occupied, still the Indians never 
could see any one, for they all possessed invisibility. For 
ten niglits now, the smoke had not ascended, but filled the 
lodge and drove them out. This last night they were all 
driven out, and the young woman carried off the head. 

The young people and the sister heard the young woman 
coming high through the air, and they heard her saying, 
" Prepare the body of our brother." And as soon as they 
heard it, they went to a small lodge where the black body 
of lamo lay. His sister commenced cutting the neck part, 
from which the head had been severed. She cut so deep as 
to cause it to bleed ; and the others who were present, by 
rubbing the body and applying medicines, expelled the 
blackness. In the mean time, the one who brought it, by 
cutting the neck of the head, caused that also to bleed. 

As soon as she arrived, they placed that close to the body, 



ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 131 

and by the aid of medicines and various other means, suc- 
ceeded in restoring lamo to all his former beauty and manli- 
ness. All rejoiced in the happy termination of their troubles, 
and they had spent some time joyfully together, when lamo 
said, "Now I will divide the wampum;" and getting the 
belt which contained it, he commenced with the eldest, giv- 
ing it in equal proportions. But the youngest got the most 
splendid and beautiful, as the bottom of the belt held the 
richest and rarest. 

They were told that, since they had all once died, and 
were restored to life, they were no longer mortals, but spir- 
its, and they were assigned different stations in the invisible 
world. Only Mudjekeewis's place was, however, named. 
He was to be the west wind, — forever. They were com- 
manded, as they had it in their power, to do good to the 
inhabitants of the earth ; and forgetting their sufferings in 
procuring the wampum, to give all things with a liberal 
hand. 

Note.— i^fwcye^'eeuJiS,— the West Wind, aad tiid lather jt' Hiawatha. See "Indian 
Names of Places Near the Qreat L»k0S." Prloe 35 oeats. See advertisement. 



132 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 



The Red Swan. 



Three brothers were left destitute, by the death of their 
parents, at an earlj age. The eldest was not j'et able to pro- 
vide fully for their support, but did all he could in hunting, 
and with his aid, and tlie stock of provisions left by their 
father, tliey were preserved and kept alive, rather, it seems, 
by miraculous interposition, than the adequacy of their 
own exertions. The fathei" had been a hermit, having re- 
move'! far away from the body of the tribe, so that when he 
and his wife died they left their children without neighbors 
or friends, and the lads had no idea that there was a human 
being near them. They did not even know who their parents 
had been, for the eldest was too young, at the time of their 
death, to remember it. Forlorn as they were, they did not, 
however, give up to despondency, but made use of every 
exertion they could, and in pi'ocess of time, learned the art 
of hunting and killing animals. The eldest soon became an 
expert hunter, and was very successful in procuring food. 
He was noted for his skill in killing buffalo, elk and moose, 
and he instructed his brothers in the arts of the forest as soon 
as they became old enough to follow him. After they Iiad 
become able to hunt and take care of themselves, the elder 
proposed to leave theni, and go in search of habitations, 
promising to return as soon as he could procure them wives. 
In this project he was overruled by his brothers, who said 
they could not part with him. Mudjekeewis, the second 
eldest, was loud in his disapproval, saying, " What will you 
do witli tliose you propone to get — we have lived so long with- 
out them, and we can still do without them." His words 



ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 133 

prevailed, and the three brothers continued together for a 
time. 

One day they agreed to kill a male of the kind of animal 
that each was most expert in hunting, for the purpose of 
making quivers from their skins. They did so, and immedi- 
ately commenced making arrows to till their quivers, that 
they might be prepared for any emergency. Soon after, 
they hunted on a wager, to see who should come in first with 
game, and prepare it so as to regale the others. They were 
to shoot no other animal but such as each was in the habit 
of killing. They set out different ways; Odjibwa, the 
youngest, had not gone far before he saw a bear, an animal 
he was not to kill, by the agreement. He followed him 
close, aiid drove an arrow through him, which brought him 
to the ground. Although contrary to the bet, he immediately 
commenced skinning him, when suddenly something red 
tinged all the air around him. He rubbed his eyes, thinking 
lie was perhaps deceived, but without effect, for the red hue 
continued. At length he heard a strange noise at a distance. 
It first appeared like a human voice, but after following the 
sound for some distance, he reached the shores of a lake, and 
soon saw the object he was looking for. At a distance out 
in the lake, sat a most beautiful Red Swan, wliose plumage 
glittered in the sun, and who would now and then make the 
same noise he had heard. He was within long bow-shot, and 
pulling the arrow from the bow-string up to his ear, took 
deliberate aim and shot. The arrow took no effect ; and he 
shot and shot again till his quiver was empty. Still the swan 
remained, moving around and around, stretching its long 
neck and dipping its bill into the water, as if lieedless of the 
arrows shot at it. Odjibwa ran home, and got all his own 
and his brothers' arrows, and shot them all away. He then 
stood and gazed at the beautiful bird. While standing, he 
remembered his brothers saying that in their deceased 



134 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

father's medicine sack were three magic arrows. Off he 
started, his anxiety to kill the swan overcoming all scruples. 
At any other time he would have deemed it sacrilege to 
open his father's medicine sack, but now he hastily seized 
the three arrows and ran back, leaving the other contents of 
the sack scattered over the lodge. The swan was still there. 
He shot the first arrow with great precision, and came very 
near to it. The second came still closer ; as he took the last 
arrow, he felt his arm firmer, and drawing it up with vigor, 
saw it pass through the neck of the swan, a little above the 
breast. Still it did not prevent the bird from flying off, 
which it did, however, at first slowly, flapping its wings and 
rising gradually into the air, and then flying off toward the 
sinking of the sun. Odjibwa was disappointed ; he knew 
that his brothers would be displeased with him ; he rushed 
into the water and rescued the two magic arrows, the third 
was carried off by the swan ; but he thought that it could not 
fly very far with it, and let the consequences be wliat they 
might, he was bent on following it. 

Off he started on the run ; he was noted for speed, for he 
would shoot an arrow, and then run so fast that the arrow 
always fell behind him. I can run fast, he thought, and I 
can get up with the swan some time or other. He thus ran 
over hills and prairies, toward the west, till near night, and 
was only going to take one more run, and then seek a place 
to sleep for the night, when suddenly he heard noises at a 
distance, which he knew were from people ; for some were 
cutting trees, and the strokes of their axes echoed through 
the woods. When he emerged from the forest, the sun was 
just falling below the horizon, and he felt pleased to find a 
place to sleep in, and get something to eat, as he had left 
home without a mouthful. All these circumstances could 
not damp his ardor for the accomplishment of his object, and 
lie felt that if he only "persevered, he would succeed. At a 



ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 135 

distance, on a rising piece of ground, he could see an exten- 
sive town. He went toward it, but soon heard the watch- 
man, MuDjEE-KoKOKOHO, who was placed on some height to 
overlook the place, and give notice of the approach of friends 
or foes — crying out, "We are visited;" and a loud holla 
indicated that they all heard it. The young man advanced, 
and was pointed by the watchman to the lodge of the chief, 
" It is there you must go in," he said, and left him. " Oome 
in, come in," said the chief, "take a seat there," pointing to 
the side where his daughter sat. "It is there you must sit." 
Soon they gave him something to eat, and very few questions 
were asked him, being a stranger. It was only when he 
spoke, that the others answered him. " Daughter," said the 
chief, after dark, " take our son-in-law's moccasins, and see if 
they be torn ; if so, mend them for him, and bring in his 
bundle." The young man thought it strange that he should 
be so warmly received, and married instantly, without his 
wishing it, although the young girl was pretty. It was some 
time before she would take his moccasins, which he had 
taken off. It displeased him to see her so reluctant to do so, 
and when she did reach them, he snatched them out of her 
hand and hung them up himself. He laid down and thought 
of the swan, and made up his mind to be off by dawn. He 
awoke early, and spoke to the young woman, but she gave 
no answer. He slightly touched her. " What do you want ?" 
she said, and turned her back toward him. " Tell me," he 
said, " what time the swan passed. I am following it, and 
come out and point the direction." " Do you think you can 
catch up to it ?" she said. " Yes," he answered. "Naubesah " 
(foolishness), she said. She, however, went out and pointed in 
the direction he should go. The young man went slowly 
till the sun arose, when he commenced traveling at his accus- 
tomed speed. He passed the- day in running, and when 
night came, he was unexpectedly pleased to find himself near 



136 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

another town ; and when at a distance, he heard the watch- 
^rian crying out, " We are visited ;" and soon the men of the 
village stood out to see the stranger. He was again told to 
enter the lodge of the chief, and his reception was, in every 
respect, the same as he met the previous night ; only tliat the 
young woman was more beautiful, and received him very 
kindly, but although urged to stay, his mind was fixed on the 
object of his journey. Before daylight he asked the young 
woman what time the Red Swan passed, and to point out the 
way. She did so, and said it passed yesterday when the sun 
was between midday and its falling place. He again set out 
rather slowly, but when the sun had arisen he tried his speed 
by shooting an arrow ahead, and running after it ; but it fell 
behind him. Nothing remarkable happened in the course of 
the day, and he went on leisurely. Some time after dark he 
saw a light emitted from a small low lodge. He went up to 
it very slyly, and peeping through the door, saw an old man 
alone, warming his back before the fire, with his head down 
on his breast. He thought the old man did not know that 
he was standing near the door, but in this he was disap- 
pointed, for the old man called out, — "Walk in, Nosis,* 
take a seat opposite to me ; take off your things and dry 
them, for you must be fatigued ; and I will prepare you 
something' to eat." Odjibwa did as he was requested. 
The old man, a magician, then said : " My kettle M'ith water 
stands near the fire;" and immediately a small earthen or a 
kind of metallic pot with legs appeared by the tire. He then 
took one grain of corn, also one whortleberry, and put them 
in the pot. As the young man was very hungry, he thought 
that his chance for a supper was but small. Xot a word or 
a look, however, revealed his feelings. The pot soon boiled, 
when the old man spoke, commanding it to stand some dis- 
tance from the fire; "Xosis," said he, "feed yourself," and 

* yiy Kraudchild. 



ANNALS OF FOKT MACKINAC. 137 

he handed him a dish and hidle made out of the same 
metal as the pot. The young man helped himself to all that 
was in the pot ; he felt ashamed to think of his having done 
so, but before he could speak, the old man said, " Nosis, eat, 
eat;" and soon after he again said, "Help yourself from 
the pot," Odjibwa was surprised on looking into it to see 
it full ; he kept on taking all out, and as soon as it was done, 
it was again tilled, till he had amply satisfied his hunger. 
The magician then spoke, and the pot occupied its accustomed 
place in one part of the lodge. The young man ^hen leis- 
urely reclined back, and listened to the predictions of his 
entertainer, who told him to keep on, and he would obtain 
his object. " To tell you more," said he, " I am not permitted ; 
but go on as you have commenced, and you will not be dis- 
appointed ; to-morrow you will again reach one of my fellow 
old men ; but the one you will see after him will tell you all, 
and the manner in which you will proceed to accomj:»lish your 
journey. Often has this Red Swan passed, and those who have 
followed it have never returned : but you must be firm in 
your resolution, and be prepared for all events." " So will 
it be," answered Odjibwa, and they both laid down to sleep. 
Early in the morning, the old man had his magic kettle pre- 
pcired, so that his guest should eat before leaving. 

Odjibwa set out in better spirits than he had done since 
leaving home. Night again found him in company with an 
old man, who received him kindly, and directed him on his 
way in the morning. He travelled with a light heart, expect- 
ing to meet the one who was to give him directions how to 
proceed to get the Red Swan. Toward nightfall, he reached 
the third old man's lodge. Before coming to the door, he 
heard him saying, "Nosis, come in," and going in imme- 
diately, he felt quite at home. The old man prepared him 
something to eat, acting as the other magicians had done, 
and his kettle was of the same dimensions and material. 



138 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

The old mail waited till be had done eating, wlien he com- 
menced addressing him. '• Young man, the errand you are 
on is very difficult. Numbers of young men have passed 
with the same purpose, but never returned. Be careful, and 
if your guardian spirits are powerful, you may succeed. 
This Red Swan you are following, is the daughter of a magi- 
cian, who has plenty of everything, but he values his daugh- 
ter but little less than wampum. He formerly wore a cap 
of wampum, which was attached to his scalp ; but powerful 
Indians-^warriors of a distant chief, came and told him tliat 
their chief's daughter was on the brink of the grave, and she 
herself requested his scalp of wampum to effect a cure. ' If 
I can only see it, I will recover,' she said, and it was for this 
reason they came, and after long urging tlie magician, he at 
last consented to part with it, only from the idea of restoring 
the young woman to health ; although when he took it off, 
it left his head bare and bloody. Several years have passed 
since, and it has not healed. The warriors' coming for it, 
was only a cheat, and they now are constantly making sport 
of it, dancing it about from village to village ; and on every 
insult it receives, the old man groans from pain. Those 
Indians are too powerful for the magician, and numbers 
have sacrificed themselves to recover it for him, but without 
success. The Red Swan has enticed many a young man, as 
she has done you, in order to get them to procure it, and 
whoever is the fortunate one that succeeds, will receive the 
Red Swan as his reward. In the morning you will proceed 
on your way, and toward evening you will come to the magi- 
cian's lodge, but befoi-e you enter you will hear his groans ; 
he will immediately ask 3'ou in, and you will see no one but 
himself; he will make inquiries of you, as regards your 
dreams, and the powers of your guardian spirits; he will 
then ask you to attempt the recovery of his scalp ; he will 
show you the direction, and if you feel inclined, as I dare 



ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 139 

say you do, go forward, my son, with a strong heart, perse- 
vere, and I have a presentiment you will succeed." The 
young man answered, " I will try." Early next morning, 
after having eaten from the magic kettle, he started off on 
his journey. Toward evening he came to the lodge as he 
was told, and soon heard the groans of the magician. " Come 
in," he said, even before the young man reached the door. 
On entering he saw his head all bloody, and he was groaning 
most terribly. "Sit down, sit down," he said, " while I pre- 
pare you something to eat," at the same time doing as the 
other magicians had done, in preparing food — "You see," he 
said, "how poor I am ; I have to attend to all my wants." 
He said this to conceal the fact that the Red Swan was there, 
but Odjibwa perceived that the lodge was partitioned, and 
he heard a rustling noise, now and then, in that quarter, 
which satisfied him that it was occupied. After having 
taken his leggings and moccasins off, and eaten, the old 
magician commenced telling him how he had lost his scalp — 
the insults it was receiving — the pain he was suffering in 
consequence — his wishes to regain it — the unsuccessful at- 
tempts that had already been made, and the numbers and 
power of those who detained it ; stated the best and most 
probable way of getting it ; touching the young man on his 
pride and ambition, by the proposed adventure, and last, he 
spoke of such things as would make an Indian rich. He 
would interrupt his discourse by now and then groaning, and 
saying, " Oh, how shamef ull}' they are treating it." Odjibwa 
listened with solemn attention. The old man then asked 
him about his dreams at the particular time he had fasted 
and blackened his face to procure guardian spirits. 

The young man then told him one dream ; the magician 
groaned; "No, that is not it," he said. The young man 
told him another. He groaned again ; " That is not it," 
he said. The young nian told hini of two or three others. 



140 ANNAL8 OF FORT MACKmAO. 

The magician groaned at each recital, and said, rather peev- 
ishly, "You have not told it." The young man then 
tiiought to himself, Who are you? you may groan as much 
as you please; I am inclined not to tell you any more dreams. 
The magician then spoke in rather a supplicating tone. 
"Have you no more dreams of another kind?" "Yes," said 
the young man, and told him one. "That is it, that is it," 
he cried ; "you will cause me to live. That was what I \^as 
wishing you to say ;" and he rejoiced greatly. " Will you 
then go and see if you cannot procure my scalp?" " Yes," 
said the young man, "I will go; and the day beyond to- 
morrow, when you hear the cries of the Kakak,* you will 
know, by this sign, that I am successful, and you must pre- 
pare your head, and lean it out through the door, so that the 
moment I arrive, I may place your scalp on." "Yes, yes," 
said the magician ; as you say, it will be done." Early next 
morning, he set out on his perilous adventure, and about the 
time that the sun hangs toward home, he heard the shouts of 
a great many people. He was in a wood at the time, and 
saw, as he thought, onlj^ a few men ; but the further he 
went, the more numerous they appeared. On emerging 
into a plain, their heads appeared like the hanging leaves for 
number. In the center he perceived a post, and something 
waving on it, which was the scalp. Now and then the air 
was rent with the Saic-sait-qimn, for they were dancing the 
war dance around it. Before he could be perceived, he 
turned himself into a humming-bird, and flew toward the 
scalp. 

As he passed some of those who were standing by, he flew 
close to their ears, making the humming noise which this 
bird does when it flies. They jumped on one side, and 
asked each other what it could be. By this time he had 
nearly reached the scalp, but fearing he should be perceived 

♦ A species of hawk. 



ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 141 

while untying it, he changed himself into a small sky-blue 
butterfly, and then floated slowly to the scalp. He untied 
it, and moved off slowly, as the weight was almost too great. 
It was as much as he could do to keep it up, and prevent the 
Indians from snatching it away. The moment they saw it 
moving, they filled the air with their cries of "It is taken 
from us; it is taken from us." He continued moving a few 
feet above them : the rush and hum of the people was like 
the dead beating surges after a storm. He soon gained on 
them, and they gave up the pursuit. After going a little 
further he changed himself into a Kakak, and flew off with 
his prize, making that peculiar noise which this bird makes. 

In the mean time, the magician had followed his instruc- 
tions, placing his head outside of the lodge, as soon as he 
heard the cry of the Kakak, and soon after he heard the 
rustling of its wings. In a moment Odjibwa stood befoi^e 
him. He immediately gave the magician a severe blow on 
the head with the wampum scalp : his limbs extended and 
quivered in agon_y from the effects of the blow : the scalp 
adhered, and the young man walked in and sat down, feeling 
perfectly at home. The magician was so long in recovering 
from the stunning blow, that the young man feared he had 
killed him. He was however pleased to see him show signs 
of life ; he first commenced moving, and soon sat up. But 
how surprised was Odjibwa to see, not an aged man, far in 
years and decrepitude, but one of the handsomest young men 
ho ever saw stand up before him. 

"Thank you, my friend^'" lie said: "you see that yonr 
kindness and bravery have restored me to my former shape. 
It was so ordained, and you have now accomplished the vic- 
tory." The young magician urged the stay of his deliverer 
for a few days; nnd they soon formed a warm attachment 
for- each other. The magician never alluded to the Red 
Swan in their conversations. 



142 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

At last, the day arrived when Odjibwa made preparations 
to return. The young magician amply repaid him for his 
kindness and bravery, by various kinds of wampum, robes, 
and all such things as he had need of to make him an influ- 
ential man. But though the young man's curiosity was at 
its height about the Red Swan, he controlled his feelings, 
and never so much as even hinted of her ; feeling that he 
would surrender a point of propriety in so doing ; while the 
one he had rendered such service to, whose hospitality he was 
now enjoying, and who had richly rewarded him, had never 
so much as even mentioned anything about her, but studi- 
ously concealed lier. 

Od jibwa's pack for traveling was ready, and he was taking 
his farewell smoke, when the young magician thus addressed 
him : " Friend, you know for what cause you came thus 
far. You have accomplished your object, and conferred a 
lasting obligation on me. Your perseverance shall not go 
unrewarded ; and if you undertake other things with the 
same spirit you have this, you will never fail to accomplish 
them. My duty renders it necessary for me to remain where 
I am, although I should feel happy to go with you. I have 
given you all you will need as long as you live ; but I see 
you feel backward to speak about the Red Swan. I vowed 
that whoever procured me my scalp, should be rewarded by 
possessing the Red Swan." He then spoke, and knocked on 
the partition. The door immediately opened, and the Red 
Swan met his eager gaze. She was a most beautiful female, 
and as she stood majestically before him, it would be impos- 
sible to describe her charms, for she looked as if she did not 
belong to earth. " Take her," the young magician said ; 
"she is my sister, treat her well ; she is worthy of you, and 
what you have done for me merits more. She is ready to 
go with you to your kindred and friends, and has been so 
ever since your arrival, and my good wishes go with you 



ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 143 

both." She then looked very kindly on her husband, who 
now bid farewell to his friend indeed, and accompanied by 
the object of his wishes, he couinienced retracing his foot- 
steps. 

They travelled slowly, and after two or three days reached 
the lodge of the third old man, who had fed him from his 
small magic pot. He was very kind, and said, " Yon see 
what your perseverance has procured you ; do so always and 
you will succeed in all things you undertake." 

On the following morning when they were going to start, 
he pulled from the side of the lodge a bag, which he pre- 
sented to the young man, saying, "Nosis, I give you this; 
it contains a present for you ; and I hope you will live hap- 
pily till old age." They then bid farewell to him and pro- 
ceeded on. 

They soon reached the second old man's lodge. Their 
reception there was the same as at the first ; he also gave 
them a present, with the old man's wishes that they would 
be happy. They went on and reached the first town, which 
the young man had passed in his pursuit. The watchman 
gave notice, and he was shown into the chief's lodge. "Sit 
down there, son-in-law," said the chief, pointing to a place 
near his daughter. "And you also," he said to the Red 
Swan. 

The young woman of the lodge was busy in making some- 
thing, but she tried to show her indiiierence about what was 
taking place, for she did not even raise her head to see who 
was come. Soon the chief said, "Let some one bring in the 
buiidle of our son-in-law." When it was brought in, the 
young man opened one of the bags, which he had received 
from one of the old men ; it contained wampum, robes, and 
various other articles ; he presented them to his father-in-law, 
and all expressed their surprise at the value and richness 
of the gift. The chief's daughter then stole a glance at 



14:4 ANNxVLS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

the present, and at Odjibwa and his beantifnl wife; but she 
stopped working, and remained silent and thoughtful all tiie 
evening. They conversed about his adventures; after this 
the chief told him that he should take his daughter along 
with him in the morning; the young man said "Yes." The 
chief then spoke out, saying, " Daughter, be ready to go with 
him in the morning." 

There was a Mudjekeewis in the lodge, who thought to 
hav^e got the young woman to wife; he jumped up, saying, 
" Who is he (meaning the young man), that he should take 
her for a few presents. I will kill him," and he raised a 
knife which he had in his hand. But he only waited till 
some one held him back, and then sat down, for he was too 
great a coward to do as he had threatened. Early they took 
their departure, amid the greetings of their new friends, and 
toward evening reached the other town. The watchman 
gave the signal, and numbers of men, women and children 
stood out to see them. They were again shown into th^ 
chief's lodge, who welcomed them by saying, " Son-in-law, 
you are welcome, and requested him to take a seat by his 
daughter; and the two women did tlie same. 

After the usual formalities of smoking and eating, the 
chief requested the 3'oung man to relate his travels in the 
hearing of all the inmates of the lodge, and those who came 
to see. They looked with admiration and astonishment at the 
Red Swan, for she was so beautiful. Odjibwa gave them 
his whole history. The chief then told him that his brothers 
had been to their town in search, of him, but had returned, 
and given up all hopes of ever seeing him again. He con- 
cluded by saying that since he had been so fortunate and so 
manly, he should take his daughter with him ; " for although 
your brothers," said he, " were here, they were too timid to 
enter any of our lodges, and merely inquired for you and 



ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 145 

returned. You will take my daughter, treat her well, and 
that will bind us more closely together." 

It is always the ease in towns, that some one in it is foolish 
or clownish. It happened to be so here ; for a Mndjekeewis 
was in the lodge; and after the young man had given his 
father-in-law presents, as he did to the first, this Mndjekee- 
wis jumped up in a passion, saying, " Who is this stranger, 
that he should have her? I want her myself." The chief 
told him to be quiet, and not to disturb or quarrel with one 
who was enjoying tlieir hospitality. " No, no," he bolster 
ously cried, and made an attempt to strike the stranger. 
Odjibwa was above fearing his threats, and paid no attention 
to him. He cried the louder, " I will have her; I will have 
her." In an instant he was laid flat on the ground from a 
blow of a war club given by the chief. After he came to 
himself, the chief upbraided him for his foolishness, and told 
him to go out and tell stories to the old women. 

After a number of days' travel, Odjibwa and his party 
came in sight of his home. The party rested while he went 
alone in advance to see his brothers. When he entered the 
lodge he found it all dirty and covered with ashes : on one side 
was his eldest brother, with his face blackened, and sitting 
amid ashes, crying aloud. On the other side was Mndje- 
keewis, his other brother ; his face was also blackened, but 
his head was covered with feathers and swan's down ; he 
looked so odd, that the young man could not keep from 
laughing, for he appeared and pretended to be so absorbed 
with grief that he did not notice his brother's arrival. The 
eldest jumped up and shook hands with him, and kissed hira, 
and felt very happy to see him again. 

Odjibwa, after seeing all things put to rights, told them 
that he had brought each of them a wife. When Mndje- 
keewis heard about the wife, he jumped up and said, " Why! 
— just now you have come ?" and made for the door and 



146 ANNAL8 OF FOET MACKINAC. 

peeped out to see the women. He then commenced jumping 
and hino-hing, saying, " "Women ! women !" That was the 
only reception he gave his brother. Odjibwa then told them 
to wash themselves and prepare, for he would go and fetch 
them in. Mudjekeewis jumped and washed himself, but 
would every now and then go and peep out to see the 
women. When they came near, he said, "I will have this 
one, and that one ;" he did not exactly know wliich — he 
would go and sit down for an instant, and then go and peep 
and laugh ; he acted like a madman. 

As soon as order was restored, and all seated, Odjibwa 
presented one of the women to his eldest brothei', saying, 
" These women were given to nie ; I now give one to eac!i ; 
I intended so from the first." The young man led one to 
Mudjekeewis, saying, " My brother, here is one for you. and 
live happily." Mudjekeewis hung down his head as if he 
was ashamed, but would ever}' now and then steal a gUince at 
his wife, and also at the other women. By and by he turned 
toward his wife, and acted as if he had been marriedfor years. 
"Wife," he said, "I will go and hunt," and off he started. 

All lived peaceably for some time, and their town pros- 
pered, the inhabitants increased, and everything was abundant 
among them. One day dissatisfaction was manifested in the 
conduct of the two elder brothers, on account of Odjibwa's 
having taken their deceased father's magic arrows: they up- 
braided and urged him to procure others if he could. Their 
object was to get him away, so that one of them might after- 
ward get his wife. One day, after listening to them, he told 
them he would go; — and next day, true to his word, he left 
thera. After traveling a long way he came to an opening in 
the earth, and descending, it led him to the abode of departed 
spirits. The country appeared beautiful, the extent of it 
was lost in the distance: he saw animals of various kinds in 
abundance. The first he came near to were buffalo ; his 
surprise was great when these animals addressed him as 



ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 147 

human beings. They asked him what he came for, how 
he descended, wliy he was so bohj as to visit the abode 
of the dead. He told them he was in search of magic 
arrows to appease his brothers. " Yery well,"' said the leader 
of tlie buffaloes, whose whole form was nothing but bone. 
"Yes, we know it," and he and his followers moved off a 
little space as if they were afraid of him. " Ym liave come," 
resumed the Buffalo Spirit, "to a place where a liviiig man 
has never before been. You will return immediately to 
your tribe, and you will live to a very old age, and live and 
die happily ; you can go no further in these abodes of ours." 
Odjibwa looked, as he thought to the west, and saw a bright 
light, as if tlie sun was shining in its splendor, but he saw no 
sun. " What light is that I see yonder?" he asked. The all- 
boned buffalo answereilf "It is the place where those who were 
good dwell." "And that dark cloud ? ' Odjibwa again asked. 
"Mudjeeizzhi-wabeze win, "(wickedness) answered the buffalo. 
He asked no more questions, and with the aid of his guardian 
spirits, again stood on this earth and saw the sun giving light 
as .usual, and breathed the pure air. After wandering a long 
time in quest of information to make his people happy, he 
one evening drew near to his village or town ; passing all the 
other lodges, and coming to his own, he heard his brothers 
at high words with each other ; they were quarreling for the 
possession of his wife. She had, however, remained con- 
stant, and mourned the absence and probable loss of her hus- 
band ; but she had mourned him with the dignity of virtue. 
The noble youth listened till he was satisfied of the base 
principles of his brothers. He then entered the lodge, with 
the stern air and conscious dignity of a brav-^e and honest 
man. He spoke not a word, but placing the magic arrows 
to his bow, drew them to their length and laid the brothers 
dead at his feet. 

Note.— "Indian Names of Places Near the Groat Lakes." Price 25 cents. Se« 
advertisement. 



148 ANNALS OF FOKT MACKINAC. 



The White Feather. 



On the site of the present military cemetei-y on Mackinac 
Island, there lived an old man, with his grandson wliom he 
had taken when quite an infant. The ciiild had no parents, 
brothers, or sisters ; they had all been destroyed by six large 
2^iants, and he liad been informed that he had no other rela- 
tive living besides his grandfatlier. The band to whom he 
belonged had put up their children on a wager in a race 
against those of the giants, and had thus lost them. There 
was an old tradition in the band, thafl^it would produce a 
great man, who would wear a white feather, and who would 
astonish every one with his skill and feats of bravery. 

The grandfather, as soon as the child could play about, 
gave him a bow and arrows to amuse himself. He 
went into the edge of the woods one day, and saw a rabbit ^ 
but not knowing what it was, he ran home and described it 
to his grandfather. He told him what it was, that its flesh 
was good to eat, and that if he would shoot one of his arrows 
into its body, he would kill it. He did so, and brought the 
little animal home, which he asked his grandfather to boil, 
that they might feast on it. He humored the boy in this, 
and encouraged him to go on in acquiring the knowledge of 
hunting, until he could kill deer and larger animals ; and he 
became, as he grew up, an expert hunter. As they lived 
alone, and away from other Indians, his curiosity was excited 
to know what was passing in the world. One day he came 
to the edge of a prairie, where he saw ashes like those at his 
grandfather's lodge, and lodge-poles left standing. He re- 
turned and inquired whether his grandfather put up the 



ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 149 

poles and made the fire. He answered no, nor did he be- 
lieve that he had seen anything of the kind. It was all 
imagination. 

Another day while out hunting, he heard a voice calling 
out to him, " Come liere, you destined wearer of the White 
Feather. You do not yet wear it, but you are worthy of it. 
Return home and take a short nap. You will dream of 
hearing a voice, which will tell you to rise and smoke. You 
will see in your dream a pipe, smoking sack, and a large 
white feather. When you awake you will find these articles. 
Put the feather on your head, and you will become a great 
hunter, a great warrior, and a great man. capable of doing 
anything. As a proof that you will become a great hunter, 
when you smoke, the smoke will turn into pigeons." The 
voice then informed him who he was, and then gave him a 
vine, and told him he was of an age to revenge the injuries 
of his relations. " When you meet your enemy," continued 
the spirit, "you will run a race with him. He will not see 
the vine, because it is enchanted. While you are running, 
you will throw it over his head and entangle him, so that 
you will win the race." 

Long ere this speech was ended, he had turned to the 
quarter from which the voice proceeded, and was astonished 
to behold a man, for as yet he had never seen any man be- 
sides his grandfather, whose object it was to keep him in 
ignorance. But tiie circumstance that gave him the most 
surprise was, that this man, who had the looks of great age, 
was composed of wood from his breast downward, and ap- 
peared to be fixed in the earth. 

He returned home, slept, heard the voice, awoke, and 
found the promised articles. His grandfather was greatly 
surprised to find him with a white feather on his forehead, 
and to see flocks of pigeons flying out of his lodge. He then 



150 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

recollected what had been predicted, and began to weep at 
the prospect of losing his charge. 

Invested with these honors, the young man departed the 
next morning to seek his enemies and gratify his revenge. 
The giants lived in a very high lodge in the middle of a 
wood. He travelled on till he came to this lodge, where he 
found that his coming had been made known by the little 
spirits loho carry the news. The giants came out, and gave 
a cry of joy as they saw him coming. When he approached 
nearer, they began to make sport of him, saying, " Here 
comes the little man with the white feather, who is to achieve 
Buch wonders." They, however, spoke very fair to him 
when he came up, saying he was a brave man, and would do 
brave things. This they said to encourage, and the nioi-e 
surely to deceive him. He, however, understood tlie object. 

He went fearlessl}' up to the lodge. They told him to 
commence the race with the smallest of their number. The 
point to which they were to run was a peeled tree towards 
the rising sun, and then back to the starting-place, which was 
marked by a Chaunkahpee, or war-club, made of iron. Thi?^ 
club was the stake, and whoever won it was to use it in beat 
ing the other's brains out. If he beat the tirst giant, he was 
to try the second, and so on until they had all measured 
speed with him. He won the first I'ace bv a dexterous use 
of the vine, and immediately despatched his competitor, and 
cut off his head. Next morning he ran with the second 
giant, whom he also outran, killed and decapitated. He pro- 
ceeded in this way for five successive moi'nings, always con- 
quering by the use of his vine, cutting off the heads of the 
vanquished. The survivor acknowledged his power, but 
prepared secretly to deceive him. He wished him to leave 
the heads he had cut off, as he believed he could again reunite 
them with the bodies, by means of one of their medicines: 
White Feather insisted, however, in carrying all the heads 



ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 151 

to his grandfather. One more contest was to be tried, which 
would decide the victory ; but, before going to the giant's 
lodge on the sixth morning, he met his old counsellor, who 
was stationary. He told him that he was about to be de- 
ceived. That he had never known any other sex but his 
own ; but that, as he went on his way to the lodge, he would 
meet the most beautiful woman in the world. He must pay 
no attention to her, but, on meeting her, he must wish him- 
self changed into a male elk. The transformation would 
take place immediately, when he must go to feeding, and not 
regard her. 

He proceeded toward the lodge, met the female, and be- 
came an elk. She reproached him for having turned himself 
into an elk on seeing her ; said she had travelled a great dis- 
tance for the purpose of seeing him, and becoming his wife. 
Now this woman was the sixth giant, who had assumed this 
disguise ; but the White Feather remained in ignorance of 
it. Her reproaches and her beauty affected him so much, that 
he wished himself a man again, and he at once resumed his 
natural shape. They sat down together, and he began to 
caress her, and make love to her. He finally ventured to 
lay his head on her lap, and went to sleep. She pushed his 
head aside at first, for the purpose of trying if he was really 
asleep ; and when she was satisfied he was, she took her axe 
and broke his back. She then assumed her natural shape, 
which was in the form of the sixth giant, and afterwards 
changed him into a dog, in which degraded form he followed 
his enemy to the lodge. He took the white feather from his 
brow, and wore it as a trophy on his own head. 

There was an Indian village at some distance, in which 
there lived two girls, who were rival sisters, the daughters of 
a chief. They were fasting to acquire power for the pur- 
pose of enticing the wearer of the white feather to visit their 
village. They each secretly hoped to engage his affections. 



152 Ai^NALS OF P'ORT MACKF-VAC. 

Each one built herself a lodge at a sliort distance from the 
village. The giant, knowing this, and having now obtained 
the valued plume, went inunediately to visit them. As he 
approached, the girls saw and recognized the feather. The 
eldest sister prepared her lodge with great care and parade, 
so as to attract the eye. The 3'ounger, supposing that he 
was a man of sense, and would not be enticed by mere pa- 
rade, touched nothing in her lodge, but left it as it ordinarily 
was. The eldest went out to meet him, and i^ivited him in. 
He accepted her invitation, and made her his wife. The 
younger invited the enchanted dog into her lodge, and made 
him a good bed, and treated him with as much attention as 
if he were her husband. 

The giant, supposing that whoever possessed the white 
feather possessed also all its virtues, went out upon the prai- 
rie to hunt, but returned unsuccessful. Tiie dog went out 
the same day, hunting upon the banks of a river. He drew a 
stone out of the water, which immediately became a beaver. 
The next day the giant followed the dog, and hiding behind 
a tree, saw the manner in which the dog went into the river 
and drew out a stone, which at once turned into a beaver. 
As soon as the dog left the place, the giant went to the river, 
and observing the same manner, drew out a stone, and had 
the satisfaction of seeinor it transformed into a beaver. Tvinof 
it to his belt, he carried it home, and, as is customary, tlirew it 
down at the door of the lodge before he entered. After 
being seated a short time, he told his wife to bring in his 
belt or hunting girdle. She did so, and returned with it, 
with nothing tied to it but a sto7ie. 

The next day, the dog, finding his method of catching 
beavers had been discovered, went to a wood at some dis- 
tance, and broke off a charred limb from a burned tree, 
which instantly became a bear. The giant, who had again 
watched him, did the same, and carried a bear home ; but 



ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 153 

his wife, when she came to go out for it, found nothing but 
a black stick tied to his belt. 

The giant's wife determined she would go to her father, 
and tell him what a valuable husband she had, who furnished 
her lodge with abundance. She set out while her husband 
went to hunt. As soon as they had departed, the dog made 
signs to his mistress to sweat him after the manner of the 
Indians. She accordingly made a lodge just large enough for 
him to creep in. She then put in heated stones, and poured 
on water. After this had been contiiined the usual time, he 
came out a very handsome young man, but had not the 
power of speech. 

Meantime, the elder daughter had reached her father's, 
and told him of the manner in which her sister supported a 
dog, treating him as her husband, and of the singular skill this 
animal had in hunting. The old man, suspecting there was 
some magic in it, sent a deputation of young men and women 
to ask her to come to him, and bring her dog along. When 
this deputation arrived, they were surprised to find, in the 
place of the dog, so fine a young man. They both accom- 
ponied the messengers to the father, who was no less aston- 
ished. He assembled all the old and wise men of the nation 
to see the exploits which, it was reported, the young man 
could perform. The giant was among the number. He 
took his pipe and filled it, and passed it to the Indians, to see 
if anything would happen when they smoked. It was passed 
around to the dog, who made a sign to hand it to the giant 
first, which was done, but nothing affected. He then took 
it himself. He made a sign to them to put the white feather 
upon his head. This was done, and he immediately regained 
his speech. He then commenced smoking, and behold ! im- 
mense flocks of white and blue pigeons rushed from the 
smoke. 

The chief demanded of him his history, which he faith- 



164 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

fully recounted. When it was finished, the chief ordered 
that the giant should be transformed into a dog, and turned 
into the middle of the village, where the boj's slionld pelt 
him to death with clubs. This sentence was executed. 

The chief tlien ordered, on the request of the White 
Feather, that all the young men should employ themselves 
four days in making arrows. He also asked for a buffalo 
robe. This robe he cut into thin shreds, and scattered on 
the prairie. At the end of the four days he invited them to 
gather all their arrows, and accompany him to a buffalo hunt. 
They found that the shreds of skin had grown into a very 
large herd of buffalo. Tliey killed as many as they pleased, 
and enjoyed a grand festival, in honor of his triumph over 
the giants. 

Having accomplislied his work, the White Feather got his 
wife to ask her father's permission to go with him on a visit 
to his grandfather. He replied to this solicitation, that a 
woman must follow her husband into whatever quarter of 
the world he may choose to go. 

Note.— See advertisement of " Indian Names of Places Near the Great Lakes." 
Price 25 cents. 



'W^J]^ 








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< 



ANNALS OF FOKT :^IACKINAC. 159 



ANCIENT MICHILIMAKINAC. 



Mishinimakina, in the locative case, MisMnima- 
hinang, — "at the great njjlifted bow," "at the great 
hanging arch," — is the Indian name of the Island of 
Mackinac. {See Yol. 2, of Kelton's "Indian Names 
of Places Near the Great Lakes.") 



The term " Michilimackinac, or " the country of Michili- 
mackinac," was by the early French applied to a largo 
portion of the eastern half of the Upper Peninsula of 
Michigan. 

Gradually the term was restricted to the French and 
Indian settlements on either side of the strait, and finally 
to the Island of Mackinac. 



The French La Pointe de St. Ignace had likewise a 
broader signification than the present Point St. Ignace ; it 
was applied to the whole of tlie little peninsula whose base 
may be defined by drawing a line due west from the mouth 
of Carp Eiver to Lake Michigan. Our map shows only 
the southern half of it. 



160 



ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 



EARLIEST INHABITANTS. 

"The "Ancient-miners" of upper Michigan, probably 
connected with the "Mound-builders" of the Mississippi 
Valley, and with the Toltecs and Aztecs, may have had an 
agricultural outpost at St. Ignace. The vestiges of a mound 
have been traced in the neighborhood of Point La Barbe. 
No tradition, however, referring to that people is found 
among our Indians. The earliest inhabitants known to the 
latter were the Mishinimakinago, i. e., " the people of 
Mishinimakinar 

According to the statement of a few still surviving, at the 
time of the French occupation, that tribe was nearly exter- 
minated by the Iroquois, in retaliation for a raid made by 
them into the country of the lattei'. 




ANCIENT MICHILIMAKINAO. 161 



EARLY FRENCH VISITORS, AND TRANSIENT 
INDIAN SETTLERS. 

Jolin Nicolet, on his remarkable journey from Canada to 
Green Bay — about 1634 — was undoubtedly the first white 
man "that saw tlie Island of Mackinac, and, coasting around 
the little peninsula, entered Lake Michigan. 

From the meagre account left of his journey, nothing can 
be gleaned regarding the inhabitants of the Mackinac country 
at that period. 

But whatever Indian population that intrepid traveler may 
have met there, the whole neighborhood was deserted twenty 
years later, when the ascendancy gained by the Iroquois in 
consequence of their destructive onslaught on the Hurons 
(1649), had compelled all the little Algonquin clans on Lake 
Huron to seek safer quarters on Lake Superior and Green 
Bay. In 1651, or perhaps the year following, the small 
tribe of Tionontate Hurons, on their flight before the Iro- 
quois, reached Mackinac, and deeming the island a safe re- 
treat, held it for about two years ; but being deceived in their 
expectation, retreated to the islands at the mouth of Green 
Bay, and later on, to its head. 

Some of the old clearings which dot the wooded part of 
Mackinac Island may date back to that period, for the Tion- 
ontates were tillers of the soil. In the autumn of 1654, two 
young Frenchmen, convoyed by Indians, passed Mackinac, 
on their way to Green Bay. They repassed the island in the 
summer of 1656, with fifty canoes laden with fur for the 
Canada market, and manned by five hundred Hurons and 
Algonquins. 

The next Frenchman known to have passed the strait was 
Nicolas Perrot, to whose Memoirs we are indebted for a 



162 ANNALS OF FOKT MACKINAO 

portion of what we know of those early times. He made 
his first journey to Green Bay about 1665. From that date 
down to the end of the century, Perrot was a frequent visi- 
tor at Mackinac, and on some occasions played a conspicuous 
parfr in the transactions between his countrymen and the In- 
dians at that post. At length the Black Gown arrived. 
Father Claude Allouez was the first of the Jesuit mission- 
aries who saw the far-famed island. He had left La Pointe 
du St. Esjprit on Lake Superior in the summer of 1669, and 
started from Sault Ste. Marie, November 3rd, with two French 
companions and some Pottawatomie Indians. From Novem- 
ber 5th to 11th, he lay wind and snow-bound on " Little St. 
Martin's Island," to which he probably gave its name, the 
day of his departure being St. Martin's day. CiH^ssing over 
from " Big St. Martin's Island " to the opposite shore, he 
met two Frenchmen and a few Indians, who endeavored in 
vain to make him desist from his intended visit to Green 
Bay, so late in the season. 

While coasting along the shore, with the island in view, 
the missionary listened with pleasure to the recital, by his 
Indian companions, of some of the legends which the author 
of Hiawatha has put into English verse. Hiawatha is the 
Mena-bosho, or Nena-bosho, of the Algonquins ; and the 
Island of Mackinac was considered as his birthplace ; and 
again, after the flood, as the locality where that civilizer of 
mankind, observing a spider weaving its web, invented the 
art of fishing with gill-nets. Father Allouez reached the 
head of Green Bay after a month's journey full of hardship 
and periL 



ANCIENT MICHILIMAKINAO. 163 



THE MISSION OF ST. IGNATIUS— FATHER MAR- 
QUETTE— HIS CHAPEL. 

In the fall of 1670, Father Claude Dablon, in his capacity 
as Superior of the Jesuits on the "upper lakes, selected the 
point north of the strait, then first called La Pointe de St. 
Ignace, as the site of a new missionary establishment in the 
place of the mission at La Pointe du St Esjprit, on Lake 
Superior, then on the point of being abandoned. One of 
the fathers, most likely Dablon himself, spent the winter on 
the spot, in all probability within the limits of the present 
village of St. Ignace, and put up some provisional buildings. 

A few Indians only, wintered in the neighborhood, but new 
and permanent settlers were expected ; first of all the wander- 
ing Tionontate Hurons. Leaving Green Bay, 1656 or 1657, 
that remarkable clan, then consisting of about 500 souls, had 
reached the Upper Mississippi, and after many adventures 
and reverses, finally settled on the Bay of Shagawamigong— 
now Ashland Bay, Wis.— where Father Allouez met them 
in 1665. Since the autumn of 1669, they had been under 
the care of Father Marquette, who was now (1671) to accom- 
pany them back to the Mackinac country. 

The party arrived at St. Ignace towards the end of June, 
at the earliest, for at the great gathering of Indians and 
French in Sault Ste. Marie, June 14:th, they had not yet 
reached the Rapids. 

The exact site of Father Marquette's temporary chapel 
and hut (cabane) is not known. It appears, however, from 
some incidental remarks in that Father's report and in a later 
Relation, that those humble buildings stood at some, though 
not a very considerable, distance from the Huron fort near 
which the second church was built. On December 8th, 



1G4 AKNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

1672, Joliet arrived with orders from the Governor of New 
France and the Superior of the Jesuits in Quebec for Father 
Marquette, to accompany him on his journey of discovery. 

The party spent the winter in St. Ignace, and started May 
17th, 1673. At that time the Hurons in St. Ignace num- 
bered 380 souls. 

Some 60 Ota was of the Sinago chm had lately joined them. 



THE HURON FORT.— SECOND CHURCH. 

In the second year of Marqnette's stay, the Tionontatea 
began to build their fort or palisaded village. According to 
LaHontan's plan, it occupied about the middle of the level 
ground surrounding East Moran Bay. And there it re- 
mained until the Hurons' departure for Detroit, about 1702. 
Soon after Marquette's departure. Fathers Henry Nouvel and 
Philip Pierson, abandoning the old site, built a substantial, 
though small, church and an adjoining residence, protected, 
after the fashion of the times, by a palisade enclosure. In 
this new church Father Marquette's remains were interred, 
June 9th, 1677. 

There can be no doubt about its position. The Jesuits' re 
port of 1G78 places it in close proximity to the Huron fort. 
So does Lallontan, in 1688. His plan shows it south of the 
fort or village, from which he says : " It is only separated 
by a palisade enclosure." 

And there it undoubtedly remained until its destruction 
by fire, about 1706. 



ANCIENT MICHILTM AKIN AC. 



165 



algoxqui^nt village and CHUECH. 

Soon after Marquette's departure, several clans of Otawas 
and kindred tribes — all comprised bj the missionaries under 
the name of Algonquins — made their appearance and settled 
on the shore of Lake Huron, a little over two miles from the 
Jesuits' residence, accordingly near the bluff called by the 
Lidians the " She Eabbit," south of the " He Rabbit," or 
" Sitting Rabbit " (Rabbit's Back). Here too a church, and a 
dwelling house for the Otawa missionary, were built. Ac- 
cording to Hennepin, who officiated in it, it was covered with 
bark. In 1679, LaSalle honored it with his visit. Of its 
later history nothing is known. Besides a floating popula- 
tion, sometimes not inconsiderable, the "Algonquin village " 
contained, in 1677, as many as 1300 souls, the princij)al clan 
beino' that of the Kishkako. 






166 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 



REMOVAL OF THE ALGONQUIN VILLAGE. 

Lallontan, wlio visited St. Ignace in the spring of 168S, 
is cilent about that church and settlement, but places an 
Otawa village in the immediate neighborhood of the Hurons, 
on East Moran Bay, stating at the same time that during his 
stay, the Ota^yas, apprehending some trouble with their 
Huron friends, began to fortify themselves on a neighboring 
bluff. From this it would appear that the Algonquins, or 
Otawas — a name then applied to most of the northwestern 
Algonquins — had, within the last few years, moved about 
two miles south. The former presence of an Indian popula- 
tion on the bluff above that part of St. Ignace popularly 
called " Vide Poche^^ is proved by the numerous articles of 
Indian and French manufacture ploughed up there by some 
of the present settlers. The local tradition also places a fort 
on that hiffht. 




ANCIENT MICHILIMAKINAO. ICJ 



THE OTAWA VILLAGE AT GEOS CAP. 

In 1677, or shortly before, another body of Algonquins — 
Ota was properly so called — came to swell the Indian popula- 
tion of St. Ignace. 

They settled, it appears, on the shore of Lake Michigan, 
between Point La Barbe and Gros Cap. This assumption 
seems necessary to reconcile the statements, in the Jesuits' 
report of 1678, regarding the respective distances between 
their residence (near the Huron village) and the two Indian 
settlements, the Algonquin village and the " New Otawa 
village." The existence of a large Otawa settlement near 
Gros Cap, in 1699, is certain from the account given by the 
Missionary Buisson de St. Come of his journey from Macki- 
nac to the Lower Mississippi. The party, of which the 
noble Tonty was one, sent their canoes around the point to 
the Otawa village, and walked themselves across the "port- 
age." The village counted then about 1500 souls. 

In 1702, these Ota was followed Cadillac, with the bulk of 
the Indian population of St. Ignace, to his new establish- 
ment on the Detroit river, but soon returned to their old 
quarters, and finally went over to the northwestern shore of 
Lower Michigan, where their descendants are still living. It 
was during their second stay on "West Moran Bay that the 
famous trader who left his name to it lived among them. 
The remains of their dead, together with wampum, glass 
beads and other articles of Indian and French manufacture, 
are frequently found in the sandy ground at the head of the 
little Bay. 



1C8 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 



ST. FRANCIS BORGIA'S CHAPEL. 

For the accommodation of the two settlements — the 
Algonquin Yillage on Lake Huron, and the new Otawa 
Village on Lake Michigan — Father Henry Nouvel built a 
church of bark at a distance of about two and a half miles 
from the residence and church of St. Ignatius; and, in 
honor of the first general of the society who sent mission- 
aries to America, named it the church of St. Francis Borgia. 
There, with Father Enjalran, he passed the winter of 1677-8, 
in a wigwam adjoining the chapel, receiving and instructing 
daily frequent visitors from both villages. We do not know 
how long that chapel remained in use. 

Duluth, who spent the winter of 1680-1 in St. Ignace, 
still gives Father Enjalran the title of missionary of St. 
Francis Borgia. 

The (surmised) removal of the Algonquins from the Rab- 
bit Buttes must have made the position of the chapel isolated, 
as it was no longer on the thoroughfare between the two 
settlements. 



THE FRENCH VILLAGE. 

The presence of French settlers at St. Ignace, is first men- 
tioned at the occasion of Father Marquette's burial. Accord- 
ing to the report of the following year (1678), the singing at 
the church of St. Ignatius was alternately in Latin, Huron and 
French. The fur and corn trade kept pace with the increase 
of the Indian population. LaSalle's arrival on the Griffon 
(1679), caused quite a stir in the commercial metropolis of 



ANCIENT MICHILIMAKINAC. 169 

the West, for nothing less than that the village of St. Ignaee 
was, and remained, until supplanted by Detroit. Hennepin, 
who wintered at the post (1680-1), mentions his enrolling 
forty-two traders into a religious confraternity. Laliontan 
locates the houses of the French settlers in two or three rows 
along the bend of the shore, south of the Jesuits' residence. 
As a matter of course, the whole French 23opulation, with the 
exception of a few lawless courexirs de hois, disappeared 
with the removal of the Indians to Detroit. 




ANCIENT NAMES OF RIVERS, LAKES, ETC. 



Lake Ontario. — Champlain called it " Lac St. Louis ; " 
Count de Froiitenac, in 1674, called it " Ontario i^^ on San- 
son's map, 1679, it appears '•'Ontario ou Img de St. Louis ;'*'' 
it had also the name " Frontenac ; " Hennepin called it 
" Ontario or Frontenac ;^^ Tonti and Father Membre call it 
^^ Lake Frontenac;^'' on De L'Isle's maps, 1700 and 1703, it 
appears as " Lao Ontario.''^ 

Lake Erie. — This name, says Mr. Baldwin, was derived 
from the tribe of Eries, on the sonth shore ; the same tribe 
was also called the Gat nation. Hennepin called it " Erie^'' 
also ^'■Contij; " and Sanson's map, 1679, gives it " Erie Lao; " 
Membre called it " de Conty; " De L'Isle's maps give it 
" Lac Erie:' 

Lake Huron. — Champlain called it " Mer Douce ; " 
Father Membre, as well as Hennepin, called it ^^ Lake 
Orleans;" De L'Isle maps, 1T03 and 1718, give it ^' Lac 
Huron ou Michigane ; " on his map of 1700, it appears as 
"Z, des Hurons.^' 

Lake Superior. — Marquette's map gives it " Lac Superieur 
ou de Tracy ; " Hennepin called it " Lake Conde ; " on De 
L'Isle's maps it is " Lac Superieur ; " Senex's map, 1719, 
and Coxe's of 1721, call it " NadouessiansP 

Lake Michigan. — Marquette, Dablon, and LaSalle, called 
it the lake of the ''llinois;''' Claude AUouez, in 1676, 
reached this lake on the eve of St. Joseph; he said "we 
give it the name of that great Saint, and shall henceforth 

[171] 



172 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

call it " Lake St. Joseph; " Allouez was the first to give 
it the name of '"''Lake Machihigcming ; " LaSalle and Father 
Membra call it ^^ Lake Daujphin ;'''' St. Cosme called it 
'•''Miesitgan^'' and also " Missigan / " Marest was one of the 
first to call it Lake Michigam,. 

Note. — The name as spelled by Allouez comes nearest the 
Indian pronounciation, which is Maskiiganing or Mishii- 
ganing^ the double i being pronounced e-e. 

The term signifies " a clearing," and was first applied to 
the north-western shores of Lower Michigan where there 
were large ancient clearings. 

Lake St. Clair. — Hennepin wrote it '■^ St. Clare ;" on the 
map of De L'Isle, of 1700, it is "Z. de Ste. Claire f^ on his 
maps of 1703 and 1718, it appears "Zac Ganatchio ou Ste. 
Claire.''^ Shea says " it received its name in honor of the 
founder of the Franciscan nuns, from the fact that LaSalle 
reached it on the day consecrated to her." 

Mississippi River. — One or more of the outlets of this 
river was discovered in the year 1519, by the Spanish ofticer, 
Don Alonzo Alvarez Pineda ; he named the river ''^Rio 
del Espiritu SantoP De Soto named it "-£7 Rio Grande 
del Florida?'' Marquette, on his map, gave it the name 
" de la Conception / " he also used the name Missipi. 

LaSalle, Membre, Hennepin, and Douay called it the "(7(?Z- 
hert ;'''' Joutel said the Indians called it '•'• Meechassippi ;'''' 
but he called it the ^'•Colbert or Mississippi f on De L'lsle's 
map it is ^^Mississippi " and "xSl Louis f Allouez first speaks 
of it as ''''Messipi " and again as the '■'' Messi-sipi /" St. Cosme 
calls it '"'' Micissipi?'* 

Note. — The name of the river, in the principal Algonquin 
dialects, is '''' MishisihV* (pronounced Me-she-se-he) meaning 
" large river." 

The translation " Father of Waters" is a poetical license. 



ANCIENT NAMES OF RIVERS, LAKES, ETC. 173 

Missouri River. — Marquette called it the '■^PekitanoUi,^^ 
meaning muddy water; the Recollects called it " the River 
of Ozagesf Membre called it the '^Ozagef on De L'lsle's 
maps, 1703, 1718, it is "^e Missouri ou de R. Pekitanoni;" 
Coxa called-it " Yellow River^"* or '•'' River of the Massorites.''^ 

Ohio River. — Marquette called the lower Ohio " Ouabous- 
kigou;^'' Joutel called it '■'■Douo or Ahachaf from the mouth 
of the Ohio to the Wabash and up that stream was known 
as the '•^ Ouahache^'' so it was called by Membre, St. Cosme, 
and LaHontan. Above the Wabash, the Ohio was more 
particularly known as '■'•Ohio ou Belle Riviere,'''' the river 
is so called on De L'lsle's map, 1703. Evans, in 1755, calls 
it " Ohio or Alleghany or La Belle." 

Illinois River. — Marquette speaks of it, but gave it no 
name ; on Franquelin's map it appears ^'■Riviere des Ilinois 
ou Macopinsf LaSalle called it the ^'"Seignlaif Fathers 
Hennepin and Membre the '''■ Seignelay f Dablon not only 
applied to one of the upper branches of the Illinois (the 
Desplaines) the name ^''St. Louis^'' but to the continuation, 
the IlKnois itself ; Coxe called it the '■''ChiGagouf De, L'lsle's 
map, 1718, gives it " Riv. des llinoisP 

Des Plaines River. — LaSalle, in 1680, called the Des- 
plaines the '■^Divine River i''^ Membre and Charlevoix did 
the same. La Salle afterward, however, called it the "CAtf- 
cagouP Dablon called it '-'■St. Louis River^'' including, 
perhaps, the continuation, the Illinois; Franquelin's map, 
1684, gives it '■'' PeanghichiaP The river was frequently 
called the '■''GhiGagouf see De L'lsle's map, 1718, and 
D'Anville's, 1755. 

Chicago, and River. — Marquette called it '■^Portage 
River /" LaSalle applies the name " Ghecago " to this 
locality, but his Ghecago River was generally the Des- 



174 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

plainest Franquelin's map, 1684, gives to this locality or 
river the name of ''^ Cheagouw.einan^'' and to another stream 
"-^. Chekagou;" Tonty, in 1685, says that he arrived at the 
'"'■Fort of Checagour St. Cosme calls it " Chikagou^'' ^^Chi- 
cagu^'' ^^Chicaqw,^^ and also " ChicagSP LaHontan, 1703, 
has it " Chegakou?'* Senex, 1710, gives it ^'■Checagouf De 
L'Isle's maps have it " Gliecagou^'' also " Cliicagou f Moll, 
1720, gives it " Chekakow, " Charlevoix, " GhicagouP 
Col. De Peyster speaks of it as ^'■Eschecagou^'' and again 
as '■'' Eschicagou^ a river and Fort at the head of Lake 
Michigan." Popple's atlas, 1733, has it '■^Fort Miamis 
ou Ouamis;^^ Mitchell, 1755, "i?. and Port Chicagou^'' and 
Sayer & Bennett's map, 1797, says ''■Point Chicago Piver.^^ 

Sandusky Bay. — On De L'Isle's map, 1718, it appears 
"Z<2C San-dou-skeP 

Saginaw Bay. — On De L'Isle's maps, 1703 and 1718, it 
appears '•'Baye de Saguina^'' and '^Baye Sa^uinaTnf Coxe 
called it the '■'■Sakinam.''^ 

Note. — " Osaginang^^ or " Osakinam.g^'' is the Indian 
name, derived from " Osagi^"* or " Osaki.^^ 

The Sacs lived on the Saginaw and Titibewasse before 
removing to Wisconsin. 

Patterson^s Point. — A rocky point of land on the north 
shore of Lake Michigan, some sixty miles from Mackinac, is 
so-called, from the fact that Mr. Charles Patterson, one of 
the principal members of the Northwest Fur Company, with 
all .his crew, was there drowned about the year 1788. 

Marquette River. — On De L'Isle's map, 1703, it is "^. 
Marquet / " Charlevoix called it " River Marquette!^'' or 
*' River of the Black RdheP 

Isle Royal, Lake Superior. — On De L'Isle's maps, 1700 
and 1703, it appears " 1. Monong ; " Coxe calls it ^''Minong.^^ 
Note. — " Minong " is the Indian name. 



AlfOIENT NAMES OF BIVBB8, LAKES, ETC. I75 

MichilimaGkmao.~K!iY(ix\eti& called it '' MichiUmaki- 
nong; " Hennepin and Membre speak of it as " Missili- 
makinak; " Joutel called it " Micilimaquinay ; " De L'Isle's 
map, 1703, calls it ''Isle et Edbitatioii de Missilimakinacy 

Note.— Marquette came nearest the Indian pronunciation 
of the word, which is " MisUnimakinangP 

The change of "ti" into "^,» by the French, is frequent 
in Indian names. 

Green ^«y.— Marquette called it ''Bay of the Fetid;'' 
Hennepin and Membre did the same. Marquette says the 
Indians called it "Salt Bay; " St. Cosme called it "Bay of 
Puants;'' on De L'Isle's maps, 1700 and 1718, it appears 
as " Baye des Puans.'' 

Milwaukee River. ~M.emhre calls it " Melleoki ;'' St. 
Cosme termed it " Melmarik ; » on De L'Isle's map, of 1718* 
it is called " MelleU:' ' 

Note.—" Minewag " is the Indian name. 

Fox River of Illinois.— J ontel, on his map, gives it "Pe- 
tescouy; " St. Cosme calls it " Pistrui ; " Charlevoix calls it 
" Pisticoui?' 

Wisconsin ^^V67■.— Father Marquette called it the « Mes- 
Gonsing;'' Hennepin quotes the Indians as calling it the 
"Ousconsin'' or "Misconsin:' Membre called it the "Mes- 
concing ;'' St. Cosme, the "Wesoonsin?" 

Note.— The Indian-name-is " Wishkdsing,'' the "<?" having 
the nasal sound of the French " oti." 



^yg ANNALS OF FOBT MACKINAC. 



FRENCH AND BRITISH OFFICERS. 

The following named officers were at Fort Michilimaekinac 
on the dates given ; their names are the only ones (of Frencli 
and British officers) which appear in the old and official 
records : 

1743, 12th August. 

MONS. DE BLAINVILIiE, 

Comraandaat of Michilimaekinac. 

1744, 6th January. 

MoNS. DE VlYEHEVET, 

Commandant of Michilimaekinac. 

1744, 11th July. 

DB RaMELIA, 

Captain and King's Commandant at Nepigon. 

1745, 11th July, and 1747. 23d May. 

DuPLESSIS DE MoiiAMPONT, 

King's Commandant at Cammanettigsia. 

1745, 25lh August, and 174G, 29th June. 
NoYELLE, Jr., 

Second in Command at Michilimaekinac. 

1745, 25th August. 

Louis de la Coune. ' 

Captain and King's Commandant at Mieliilimackinac 

1747, 7th February, 20th June and 1st September. 

MoNS. DE Noyelle, Jr. . 

Commandant of Michilimaekinac. 

1748, 28th February, 1749, 11th March and 21st June. 

MoNS. Jacques Legardeur de St. Pierre, 

Captain and King's Commandant at Michilimaekinac 

1749, 27th January. 

Louis Legaudeur, 

Chevalier de Kepentigny, 

Second in Command at Michilimaekinac. 



FRENCH AND BRITISH OFFICERS. 177 

1749, 29th August. 

MONS. GODEPROY, 

Officer of Troops. 

1750, 24th March, and 1752, 4th June. 

MOKS. DUPLESSIS Faber, 

Captain and King's Commandant at Michilimackinac 
Knight of the Royal and Military Order of St. Louis 

1761, 8th October. 

MoNS. DuPLESsis, Jr., 

Second in Command at Michilimackinac. 

1762, 4th June. 

MoNS. Bbaujeu db Villemonde, 

Captain and King's Commandant at Camanitigousa. 

1753, 18th July, and 1754, 15th August. 

MoNS. Marin, 

King's Commandant, Post of La Bale. 

1758, 18th July; 1754, 8th May; 1758, 33d February, 29th June, 16th July 
and 17th October; 1759, 30th January; 1760, 25th May and 8th 
September. 
MoNS. DE Beaujeu de Villemonde, 

Captain and King's Commandant at Michilimackinac. 

1754, 8th July, and 1755, 25th May. 

MoNs. Herein. 

Captain and King's Commandant at Michilimackinac. 
1765 Bth January. 

Louis Legardeur, 

Chevalier de Repentigny. 

King's Commandant at the Sault 
1755 Mth August, 

Louis Legardeur, 

Chevalier de Repentigny, 

Lieutenant of Infantry. 
1756. 38th April. 

Charles de L'Anglade, 

Officer of Troops. 
1756. IQthJune. 

MoNS. Hertblle Beaubappin, 

King's Commandant at % 



178 ANNALS OF FOKT MAOKINAO. 

1756, 19th July. 

MONS. COUTEROT, 

Lieutenant of Infantry. 
1758, 2d July. 

MoNS. DE L'Anglade, 

Second in Command at Michilimackinac. 
1758, 13th July. 

Louis Legardeur, 

Chevalier de Repentigny, 

Officer at Michilimackinac. 
1774 to 1779. 

A. S. De Peyster, 

Major Commanding Michilimackinac and Dependencies. 

1779 to 1783. 

Patrick Sinclair, 

Major and Lieutenant-Governor, 

Commanding Michilimackinac and Dependencies. 

1783 to 1787, 10th May. 

Daniel Robertson, 

Captain Commanding Michilimackinac and Dependencies. 

1784, 31st July. 

Phil. B. Fry, 

Ensign 8th, or King's Regiment. 
1784, 81st July, 

GrEORGE ClOWES, 

Lieutenant 8th, or King's Regiment 

1791, 15th November. 

Edward Charleton, 

Captain 5th Regiment Foot, 

Commanding Michilimackinaa 
1791, 15th November. 

J. M. Hamilton, 

Ensign 5th Regiment Foot. 

1791, 15th November. 

Benjamin Rocha. 

Lieutenant 6th Foot 

1791, 15th November. 

H. Headowe, 

Ensign 6th Foot 



EARLY MICHIGAN, 



The first European Settlement within the limits of the 
State of Michigan was by the French. 

In 1641, Fathers Charles Raymbault and Isaac Jogues, 
upon the invitation of the Ojibwa, visited the rapids of the 
St. Mary's River. Untoward circumstances prevented the 
establishment of a mission. 

The first white men who passed the rapids, entered Lake 
Superior, and coasted along the whole extent of the south- 
ern shore of Lake tSuperior, were Des Groseillers (famous 
for his later exploits on Hudson Bay) and another young 
Frenchman. They spent the winter of 1659-60 in Northern 
Wisconsin and Eastern Minnesota, and in the following sum- 
mer returned to Canada with three hundred Indians and 
200,000 livres' worth of fur. 

Father Renatus (Ren^) Menard was the first Jesuit who 
labored for some time among the Indians in Upper Michigan. 

His stay on Keweenaw Bay lasted from October 15th, 
1660, to July 13th, 1661. About a month later he perished 
during an attempt to reach the Huron Settlement on the 
headwaters of the Black River (Wisconsin). 

In 1665, Father Allouez coasted along the south shore of 
Lake Superior on his way to Shagawamigong (Chegoime- 
gong), where he founded a mission. Its site was at the head 
of Ashland Bay, Wisconsin. 

In 1668, Father James Marquette reached the Sault, where 
he was joined by Father Claudius Dablon. The settlement 
of Michigan begins at this period. 

[179] 



1^" ANNALS OF FOET MACKINAC. 



Under tne French and British dominion, the territory was 
associated with the Canadas, but became part of the territory 
of Virginia at the close of the war of independence, although 
It was not formally occupied by the United States until 1796. 
Virginia had in the meantime ceded to the United States all 
of her territory northwest of the Ohio River, and Congress 
by the historical "Ordinance of 1787," passed Julv 13th of 
that year, provided for its government as the "Northwest 
Territory." 

The first seat of government of the Northwest Territory 
was at Chillicothe, Ohio. By act of Congress of May 7th, 
1800, the territory was divided, preparatoiy to the adm'ission 
of Ohio into the Union as a State, and the "Indiana Terri- 
tory" was erected, with the seat of government at Vincennc.^ 
Indiana. By act of January, 1805, the Territory of Michi- 
gan was set off from the Indiana Territory, the seat of gov- 
ernment being established at Detroit. By this act, the 
southern boundary of Michigan was fixed by a line drawn 
due east from the soutlieily bend or extreme of Lake Michi- 
gan until it intersects Lake Erie, and the western boundary 
through Lake Michigan and thence due north to the north- 
ern boundary of the United States. This included on the 
south a strip of territory, now forming a part of the State 
of Ohio, and did not include the northern or Upper Penin- 
sula of the now State of Michigan. 

In the year 1835, the people of Michigan took steps for 
forming a State Government. The admission of the State 
into the Union was delayed until 1837, chiefly in consequence 
of a disagreement in regard to the southern boundary ; the 
State of Ohio laying claim to the strip of territory previously 
referred to, which it was claimed on the other hand was 
within the Territory of Michigan, and which embraces within 
Its limits the present City of Toledo. The dispute at one 
time threatened an armed collision, and military forces were 



EABLY MICHIGAN. 181 

mustered on both sides, in what is popularly known as the 
"Toledo war." The difficulty was settled by the act of 
Congress of June, 1836, fixing the disputed boundary in 
accordance with the claim of Ohio, giving to Michigan, 
instead, the territory known as the Upper Peninsula. 

The seat of government remained at Detroit until 1847, 
when it was removed to Lansing. 

The land area of the State comprises two natural divisions 
known as the Upper and Lower Peninsulas, and the adjacent 
islands. 

The Upper Peninsula contains 14,451,456 acres. 

The Lower Peninsula contains 21,677,184 acres. 

There are 179 islands included within the boundaries of 
the State, varying in area from one acre upward, their total 
area being 404,730 acres. 

Bois-Blanc Island contains 21,351 acres. 

Round Island contains 180 acres. 

Mackinac Island contains 2,221 acres. 



182 



AXXALS OF FOKT MACKINAC.' 



GOYERNOKS OF MICHIGAN. 



under french dominion. 

Samuel Champlain, 1622-1635 

M. DE MONTMAONY, 1636-1647 

M. D'AiLLEBOUT 1648-1650 

M. DE Ladson, 1651-1656 

M. DE Lauson (son), 1656-1657 

M. D'AiLLEBOUT, 1657-1658 

M. d'Argenson, 1658-1660 

Bakon d'Avaugour, 1661-1663 

M. DE Mesey 16G3-1665 

M. DE COURCELLE, 1665-1672 

Count de Frontenac , 1672-1682 

M. DE LA Barre, 1682-1685 

Marquis de Denonville, 1685-1689 

Count de Frontenac, 1689-1698 

M. DE Callieres, .* . 1699-1703 

M. DE Vaudreuil, 1703-1725 

M. DE Beauharnois, 1726-1747 

M. DE Galissoniere, 1747-1749 

M. DE LA JONQUIERE, 1749-1752 

M. DU QuESNB . 1752-1755 

M. DE Vaudreuil de Cavagnac 1755-1763 

under british dominion. 

James Murkay 1763-1767 

Guy Carleton, 17G8-1777 

Frederick Haldimand, 1777-1785 

Henry Hamilton, 1785-1786 

Lord Dorchester, 1786-1796 

territorial governors. 

Northwest Territory. 

Arthur St. Clair, 1796-1800 



EARLY MICHIGAN. 183 

Indiana Territoi'y, 

WrLLiAM Henry Harrison, 1800-1805 

Mlchirjan Territory. 

William Hull 1805-1813 

Lewis Cass, 1813-1831 

George B. Porter,* 1831-1834 

Stevens T. Mason, ex officio, 1834-1835 

UNDER state AUTHORITy. 

Stevens T. Mason 1835-1840 

William Woodrridge, . 1840-1841 

J. Wright Gordon,! . . .... 1841-1842 

John S. Barry, 1842-1846 

Alpheus Felch, ■. . . 1846-1847 

William L. Greenly. f 1847-1848 

Epaphroditus Ransom, 1848-1850 

John S. Barry, 1850-1852 

Robert McClelland 1852-1853 

Andrew Parsons,! 1853-1855 

Kinsley S. Bingham 1855-1859 

Moses Wisner, 1859-1861 

Austin Blair, 1861-1865 

Henry H. Crapo, 1865-1869 

Henry P. Baldwin, 1869-1878 

John J. Bagley ... 1873-1877 

Charles M. Croswell, 1877-1881 

David H. Jerome, 1881-1882 

Josiah W. Begole 1883-1884 

Russell A. Alger, . , 1885-1886 

* Died while in office, July 6, 1834, and was succeeded by the then Secretary of 
the Territory, Stevens T. Mason. 

+ Lieutenant-Governor acting as Governor. 



i^4 ANNALS OF FuKT MACKINAO. 



HISTORICAL EVENTS, 

CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED. 



1534. James Cartier, a Frenchman, discovered the St 
Lawrence River. 

1608. Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec. 

1634. Jo] in Nicolet passes the straits on his way to and 
from Green Bay. 

1642. The city of Montreal founded. 

1650-51. The Indian settlers of the neighborhood to- 
gether with large numbers from Manitoulin, Thunder Bay 
and Saginaw, mostly Otawas, intimidated by Iroquois prowess 
retire to Green Bay. 

1653. Eight hundred Iroquois warriors pass the strait. 
Failing to take the Huron fort on Green Bay after a pro- 
tracted siege, they break up, one division marching south, the 
other sailing northward. The former are cut down by tlie 
Illinois, the latter routed by the Ojibwa, Missisaki and Nigik 
(Otter) Indians, on Lake Huron. 

1654. Two French traders pass St. Ignace, on their way 
to Green Bay, they return in 1656 with a large trading i)arty 

60 canoes) of Hurons and Otawas. 

1665, or earlier. Nicolas Perrot passes on his first visit to 
the Pottawatomi, on Green Bay. 

1669. November 11th, Father Allouez passed Point St. 
Ignace, on his journey from Sault Ste. Marie to Green Bay : 
he relates the following Indian tradition : 

They say that this island is the native country of one of their gods, called 
"The Great Hare," who created the earth, and that it was on this 
island that he invented the nets for taking fish, after having attentively 



HISTORIC Ai EVENTS. 185 

considered a spider while constructing its web for catching flies. They 
believe that Lake Superior is a pond made by the beavers, the banks of 
which were double ; the first, at the place which we call the Sault, the 
second, five leagues lower down. In coming up the river, they say, this 
same god first encountered the second embankment, which he tore entirely 
away ; and for this reason there are no falls or turbulent waters at these 
rapids : as for the first, being in a hurry, he only walked over it and 
trampled it to pieces, in consequence of which there still remain large 
falls and boiling waters. 

This god, tliey add, while pursuing a beaver in the upper lake, crossed 
at a single step, a bay eight leagues in width. In view of so powerful an 
enemy, the beavers thought it best to change their place and consequently 
withdrew to another lake ; from thence they afterward, by aid of the rivers 
that flow from it, arrived at the North Sea, intending to pass over to 
France; but finding the water bitter (salt), they lost heart, changed their 
intentions, and spread themselves among the riveFS and lakes of this 
country. 

This is the reason why there are no beavers in France, and why the 
French have to come here in search of them. 

1670-71. Father Dablon, or another Jesuit (possibly 
Marquette), winters at Michilimackinac, laying the founda- 
tion of the Mission of St. Ignatius. 

1671. End of June, or later. The Tionontate Hurons, 
with Father Marquette, arrive from Shagawamigong (Ash- 
land Bay, L. S.) 

Autumn. The Otawas of Manitoulin, on the war-path 
against the Sioux, arrive with a large supply of arms 
and ammunition lately obtained in Montreal. Joined by 
the Hurons of the new settlement, and — on Green Bay — 
by the Pottawatomies, Sacs and Foxes, they march through 
northern Wisconsin — a well-armed body of a thousand war- 
riors — and confidently attack the Sioux in the St. Croix 
Valley. Utterly defeated, they retreat through the snow- 
covered woods, amidst sufferings and privations that lead to 
acts of cannibalism. The heavy loss sustained by the 
Hurons, who bravely covered the rear, accounts for the 
diminished numbers of the tribe, as stated by Marquette. 



180 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

1072. The Kurons build their fortified, village on East 
Moraii Bay. December 8th, Joliet arrives and winters at 
St. Igiiace. 

1673. May 17th, Joliet and Marquette, with five other 
Frenchmen, start on their voyage of discovery. 

1673 or '74. A large body of Otawas and other Algon- 
quins, principally Kishkakos, coming from Manitoulin and 
the opposite shore settle near Rabbit's Back. Father Henry 
Nouvel, Superior of the Otawa Missions, takes charge of 
them. Father Philip Pierson becomes pastor of the Hurons. 

1674^75. The second and permanent church of St. Igna- 
tius and the Jesuits' residence are built at the side of the 
Huron village. 

1675. November 8th, Father Nouvel, with two French 
companions, starts on a journey to Saginaw Bay and the 
interior of Lower Michigan. He arrives near the head 
waters of Chippewa River, December 7th, builds a chapel 
(the first on the Lower Peninsula), and winters with the 
hunters of the Amik (Beaver) Clan. 

1676. or thereabouts. Another large body of Otawas 
arrive and settle near Gros Cap, on Lake Michigan. 

1677. June 7th, The Kishkako Indians, accompanied by 
a number of Iroquois, bring Father Marquette's remains to 
St. Ignace, where they are interred, on the following day, 
within the Jesuits' chapel. 

October. Father Enjalran arrives to assist Father Nouvel 
in the Otawa Mission. 

1677-78. Father Nouvel builds the chapel of St. Francis 
Borgia in the woods, between Rabbit's Back and Gros Cap. 
Himself and Father Enjalran winter there. The French 
and Indian trade begins to assume larger proportions. 



HISTORICAL EVENTS. 187 



LASALLE, HENNEPIN AND HENRY DE TONTY 

ARRIYE AT MICHTLIMACKINAC, ON 

THE "GRIFFON." 

1679. LaSalle, on his first expedition to Illinois, arrives 
and spends some days at the settlement. 

The most remarkable character among the explorers 
of the Mississippi Yallej, in tlie latter half of the seven- 
teenth century, was Robert Cavelier de LaSalle. Viewed 
in the light and sense Of worldly enterprise, he is to be con- 
sidered as surpassing all others in lofty and comprehensive 
aims, in determined energy and unyielding courage, both 
moral and physical. He faltered at no laborious undertak- 
ing; no distrust by nerveless friends, no jealous envy or 
schemes of active enemies, no misfortune damped the ardor 
of his plans and movements. If there was a mountain in 
his track, he could scale it; if a lion beset his path, he could 
crush it. Nothing but the hand of the lurking assassin 
could quench the fire of that brave heart. We may briefly 
say, that LaSalle was born in the city of Rouen, France, 
November 22, 1643. The name LaSalle was borrowed from 
an estate, in the neighborhood of Rouen, belonging to his 
family, the Caveliers. Robert was educated at one of the 
Jesuit seminaries, and as one of that order he continued a 
short time ; but in 1666, he came to America, and it is said 
that he made early exploration to the Ohio, and was possibly 
near the Mississippi before Joliet and Marquette's voyage 
hither. We can here only allude to a few items and facts in 
LaSalle's career. It was a marked incident, and so appear? 
on the historic page, when LaSalle, in 1679, voyaged to 
Green Bay on the " Griffon," the first sail vessel of the lakes 
above the Falls, and which he had built on the bank of 



188 ANNALS OF FORT MACKLNAU. 

Cayuga Creek, a tributary of the Niagara. But that busi- 
ness trip was a mere pleasure excursion when compared with 
the efforts required of him to engineer and bring about cer- 
tain indispensable preparations, involving ways and means, 
before the keel of that renowned craft should be laid, and 
before she spread her wings to the breeze and departed out- 
ward from Buffalo Harbor of the future. And what an 
unhesitating morning- walk was that of his, in 1680, when 
he set out on foot from the Fort which (not him) they termed 
Broken Hearst, where Peoria now is, to go, some t^-elve 
hundred miles perhaps, to Fort Frontenac, where Kingston 
now is, at the lower end of Lake Ontario. His unyield- 
ing purpose was not to be delayed, but accelerated, by 
the avalanche of misfortune which had fallen on him. 
He could not wait for railroads, nor turnpikes, nor civil- 
ization : he could not even wait for a canoe navigation, 
for it was early spring — in the month of March — when 
the ice still lingered by the lake shores, and was running 
thickly in the streams. So, with one Indian and four 
white men, with a small supply of edibles, yet witli a 
large stock of resolution, he took his way. The journey 
was accomplished, and he was back on Lake Michigan 
in the autumn ensuing. It has been suggested that his 
own enduring, iron nature, as it might be called — unbending 
as it was in its requirements of others — served, perhaps, to 
create enmities and to occasion the final catastrophe. It 
may have been so ; but whatever view may be taken, the 
doings of LaSalle must be called wonderful, his misfortunes 
numberless, and his death sad. The day on which LaSalle 
was killed is said to have been March 19, 1687. 



HISTORICAL EVENTS. 189 



HENRY DE TONTT. 

There is much of romantic interest in the life of Henry 
de Toiity which will ever attract attention to the story of 
his experience in the wilds of America. He was born in 
Naples, Italy, in or near the year 1650. In a memoir, said 
to be written by him in 1693, he says : " After having been 
eight years in the French service, by land and by sea, and 
having had a hand shot off in Sicily by a grenade, I resolved 
to return to France to solicit employment." It was at the 
time when LaSalle had returned from America, and was 
getting recruits and means for his Western enterprise. The 
prime minister of Louis XIY., he that was called the great 
Colbert, knowing the soldier Tonty well, specially provided 
that the important project to be undertaken by LaSalle should 
have the benefit of the personal aid of Tonty, who, though 
maimed and single-handed, was yet ready to go forth to dare 
and to do. Tonty says: "We sailed from Eochelle on the 
14th of July, 1678, and arrived at Quebec on the 15th of 
September following." We can not, of course, attempt to 
follow the brave and capable lieutenant of LaSalle in his 
various movements, even if we had a knowledge of them ; 
yet we may say, that if a trustful agent or manager was 
needed for any adventure by LaSalle, Tonty was the man to 
till the requirement. If a fort was wanted, he was the 
architect and overseer to construct it; if a peaceable envoy to 
the Indians was required, he was the gifted embassador ; if a 
tribe needed chastisement in battle, he was the able captain 
of the forces. We need not cite examples. Tonty was pro- 
vided with some sort of a metallic arrangement as a substi- 
tute for the loss of part of an arm ; and he was known, it is 
said, far and near, among the tribes of red men, as " Le Bras 



190 ANNALS OF FOXIT MACKINAC. 

de Fer," or, The man loith the iron arm. If we rightly 
remember, more than one tale has been constructed by novel- 
writers, with its scenes laid in the Far West, presenting Tonty 
as the principal character. In long time past, an island at 
the lower end of Lake Ontario was known as, and called, the 
Isle of Tonty, being named after our hero — the man with 
the iron arm ; but the name was afterward changed to that 
of Amherst. Whatever the deserts of the titled General 
Jeffrey Amherst may have been, Henry de Tonty was the 
greater man of the two. Tonty died at Fort St. Louis, on 
Mobile Bay, in the year 1704. 



LOUIS HENNEPIN. 

Louis Hennepin, a Recollect of the order of St. Francis, 
was born at Ath, France, in 1645, He sailed for Canada 
in 1675, on the " Saint Honore." LaSalle was, also a pas- 
senger on the same vessel, 

-Hennepin left Quebec in 1678, and set out with LaSalle to 
explore the country lying south and west of Lake Michigan. 

On Cayuga Creek, a tributary of the Niagara River, into 
which it empties from the American side, five miles above 
the Falls, LaSalle built the "Griffon," upon which they 
embarked, setting sail August 7th, arriving at Michilimackinac 
August 27th, 1679. 

From his minute description of the bay, the shore, etc., the 
Rev. Edward Jacker says : The Bay where the " Griffon " 
anchored is that which is overlooked by two steep and rocky 
bluffs famous in Indian tradition, and called by the Indians 
" He " and " She " Rabbit. The former is known as " Rab- 
bit's Back." The Kiskakon Otawas were there in 1677. 

1679. Tliey arrived at Green Bay September 22d, and 
from there LaSalle sent the " Griffon " back, and it is sup- 



HI8T0EICAL EVEJ!<TS. 



191 




North Sally-Port. 



192 ANNALS OF FORT MAOKINAO. 

posed to have been wrecked off the entrance to Green Bay, 
as a severe storm arose, and it did not reach Michilmackinac. 
After various mishaps Hennepin reached the Mississippi, 
which he ascended to the Falls of St. Anthony, in the spring 
of 1680. 

1680. Duluth and Hennepin arrive from the Upper Mis- 
sissippi, by way of Green Bay. They winter at St. Ignace. 

1681. LaSalle passes St. Ignace on his second journey to 
Illinois. M. De Villeraye is appointed commandant by 
Frontenac about this time. 

1683. The fur trade declines in consequence of the 
danger of transportation, occasioned by Iroquois hostility. 
Hence distress among the traders, and dissatisfaction among 
the Indians. 

1684. Mons. De La Durantaye in command at Michili- 
mackinac. The French and Indian forces commanded by 
De La Durantaye, with Duluth as lieutenant, and Perrot as 
" manager " of the Otawas, set out to join in Do La Barre's 
inglorious expedition against the Iroquois. 

The Indian estimation of French power and vnlor is on the 
wane. During De La Durantaye's absence. M. De La Yal- 
trie acts as commandant. 

1685. All the French in the Upper Lake region are placed 
under the authority of the commandant of Michilimackinac 
(M. De La Durantaye). This measure remaining in force 
until the abandonment of the post. Michilimackinac, already 
the commercial emporium of the Northwest, becomes also its 
military centre. 

Nicolas Perrot arrives with orders from the governor, pro- 
hibiting the Otawas to march against the Foxes on Green 
Bay. He succeeds in restoring peace between the two tribes 
tWough the intermediation of an Ojibwa chief, whose daugh- 
ter (a captive among the Foxes) he saves from the stake and 
restores to her father. 



HISTORICAL EVENTS. I93 

1686. Dissatisfaction among the Indians. Most of the 
clans are leaning towards the Iroquois and the English, as the 
stronger party and better able to supply their wants. The 
English endeavor to bring about a rupture by forwarding 
supplies and liquor to Michiliinfackinac. 

1687. De La Durantaye sets out with the French force to 
take part in Denonville's expedition against the Senecas. He 
arrests, in the neigliborhood of the settlement, thirty English 
traders, and as many more on Lake Erie. The timely arrival 
of Perrot with the Green Bay Indians obviates the necessity 
of the commandant returning with the prisoners, too numer- 
ous for his safety, in a hostile neighborhood. He proceeds 
to Niagara, where the Otawas and Hurons, marching over- 
land from Lake Huron, join him ; they take part in a victori- 
ous attack on 800 Iroquois (July). The capture of those 
English parties probably prevented the massacre of the 
French in Michilimackinac, by the Hurons and Otawas. 

1688. May. LaHontan arrives with a small force (from 
a fort near the outlet of Lake Huron), and spends a month in 
the settlement. He obtains with difficulty a supply of corn. 
The Otawas, distrusting the Hurons, fortify themselves on 
th.e Bluff, north of East Moran Bay. Joutel, Cavelier, and 
other survivors of LaSalle's expedition to Texas (having 
wintered on Green Bay) pass the settlement on their way to 
Quebec and France. Kondiaronk, or Le Kat, the great 
Huron chief, departs at the head of one hundred men against 
the Iroquois, but plots with them the destruction of the Ota- 
was by stratagem. The plot proves abortive, in consequence 
of Perrot and the missionaries gaining knowledge of it ; 
Le Eat confesses his guilt. Perrot, returning from the Mis- 
sissippi with three female Ojibwa prisoners delivered to Mm 
by the Foxes, snatches five Iroquois warriors from the stake 
to. which they were condemned by the Otawas, in spite of the 
commandant's and the missionaries' remonstrances. 



194: ANNALS OF FOKT MAOKINAO. 

1G89-90. The Otawas, at the instigation of the Hurona^ 
resume their project of effecting a reconciliation with the 
Iroquois. They send jack to the Senecas the prisoners taken 
from them, and make arrangements for a meeting in the fol- 
* lowing year. Father De Clrheil, being informed of their 
plan, warns the governor by a messenger sent in tlic winter. 
Frontenac prepares a large convoy to reinforce Micliilimack- 
inac. 

1690. Spring. The Otawas take steps towards an alli- 
ance with the Iroquois, and — as a token of good will — medi- 
tate the massacre of the French traders. 

End of June or beginning of July. The post is saved by 
the arrival of M. De La Porte Louvigny (who relieved Dn- 
rantaye as commandant), with Perrot, and with an Iroquois 
prisoner, the evidence of a victory gained on the Otawa 
River over a waylaying party (June 2d). The prisoner is 
given, for execution, to the vacillating Hurons, who, dreading 
a final breach with the Iroquois, are disposed to spare him •, 
but yielding to the commandant's peremptory order, brain 
him after a short torture. 

Perrot, boldly haranguing the chiefs, assembled at the 
Jesuits' residence, reproaches them with their treachery, and 
endeavors to show them the folly of doubting the power 
of the French. They promise to amend. 

1691. De Courtemanche and De Repentigny arrive with 
the news of the French victory over the English fleet before 
Quebec. 

1692. Otawa and Huron warriors co-operate in driving 
the Iroquois from the St. Lawrence, and in the invasion of 
their territory by detached parties. 

August. Two hundred Otawas from Michilimackinac 
arrive at Montreal in quest of munition. 

1693. A great amount of fur is waiting transportation ; 
on account of the Iroquois infesting the Otawa, the Indiana 



HISTORICAL EVENTS. 



195 




South Sally.Port. 



19f» ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

will not venture the journey without a sufficient escort, 
Frontenac being informed, despatches the Sieur d'Argenteuil 
with orders for the commandant to send all the French he 
can spare down with the convoy. 

August 4th. Two hundred canoes from Michilimackinac, 
freighted with 80,000 francs worth of beaver, arrive at 
Montreal, together with the principal chiefs of the western 
tribes, A great council is held, and the Indians return 
charmed with the governor's manner, and laden with 
presents. 

1694. July. De Louvigny leaves for the colony with a 
great convoy of furs. 

The Hurons contemplating a removal, are again suspected 
of treacherous intentions. Opposed in their purpose by the 
commandant and the Otawas, one half of the tribe consent 
to stay; the other half go to live with the Miamis on the 
St. Joseph River. (M. Tilly De Courtemanche commandant 
there, since 1693.) 

De La Porte Louvigny is superseded by De La Motte 
Cadillac, the last commandant of " Ancient Michilimackinac." 
(Louvigny becomes afterwards [1712] first commandant of 
New Michilimackinac, commonly called " Old Mackinac") 

1695. Cadillac advises the governor of the necessity of a 
grand expedition against the Iroquois in order to prevent 
the defection of the western tribes. Frontenac contents 
himself with harassing the enemy, in which he is aided by 
Michilimackinac Indians, who return with a great number 
of prisoners. 

At a great meeting of western chiefs in Montreal, Fron- 
tenac emphatically gives them to understand that they must 
look upon every French officer, residing among them, as sub- 
ject to the orders of the one in command at Michilimackinac. 

The officers in command at the several posts, at that 
period, are: Tilly De Courtemanche, D'Ailleboust De Mantet, 



HISTORICAL EV^ENTS. j^QJ 

D'Ailleboust D'Argenteuil, De Lisle, Yineennes, La De- 
couverte, and Perrot. 

Le Baron, a Huron chief, concludes a treaty with the 
Iroquois. Cadillac with difficulty succeeds in suspending 
its execution. An Indian deputation goes to Montreal to 
insist (as advised by the commandant) on a reduction in the 
prices of goods. Frontenac partly satisfies them. 

The French court unable to cope with the evils springing 
from the system of trading licenses, ineffectually orders the 
evacuation of the post and the return into the colony of all 
soldiers and traders {coureurs de bois), in the West. 

1696. The Hurons and some Otawas are already hunting 
with the Iroquois. 

Cadillac dispatches a war party, 'consisting chiefly of 
Pottawatvanies and Algonquins. The Iroquois, though warned 
by the Hurons, lose thirty scalps, and thirty-two prisoners, 
who are brought to Michilimackinac. Some Hurons found 
among them are restored to their tribe. 

In consequence of the Hurons' machinations, but few 
Michilimackinac Indians take part in the campaign against 
the Onondago and Oneida. 

D'Argenteuil starts with 50 Frenchmen, but arrives too 
late. 

Le Baron, with thirty Huron families, goes to settle near 
Albany. Kondiaronk, now permanently gained over to the 
French cause by Father de Carheil, prevents the rest of the 
tribe from following them. 

1697. Frontenac, in reply to the king's order (of 1695, 
received late in 1696), insists on the posts of Michilimacki- 
nac and St. Joseph being retained, with a garrison sufficient 
to keep off English traders (twelve or fifteen soldiers with 
an officer), and on twenty-five canoe loads of goods being 
annually sent to each place. His advice prevails in the king'p 
council. 



198 ANNALS OF FOKT MACKINAC. 

Rumors of an impending war with England arrivingj 
Cadillac starts with a great number of Frenchmen, and three 
hundred Sacs, Pottawatomies, Otawas and Hurons. They 
arrive in Montreal towards the end of August. 

ITOO, September 8th. Kondiaronk and a deputy of the 
f(>ur Otawa clans sign a provisional treaty of peace with the 
Iroquois, at Montreal, 

De Courtemanche and Father Enjalran go to visit the 
other western tribes and persuade them to accede to the 
treaty. 

ITOl. Otawa hunters fight a party of Iroquois who tres- 
pass on their grounds, and bring the chief to Michilimacki- 
nac as a prisoner. 

De Courtemanche dnd Father Enjalran, greatly aided by 
Kondiaronk, bring their negotiations with the tribes to a suc- 
cessful issue. Father Enjalran leaves Michilimackinac in 
June, with two liberated Iroquois prisoners. Courtemanche 
sto,rts after the arrival of the Indian delegates, with a fleet 
of 144 canoes. 

Sieur De La Motte Cadillac founded the present city of 
Detroit, building Fort Pontchartrain, near the present Jeffer- 
son avenue, Shelby and Wood bridge streets. 

At the great meeting convened at Montreal, August 1st, 
for the conclusion of peace between the Iroquois, and the 
French and their allies (Illinois, Mianiis, Kickupoos, Foxes, 
Wiimebagos, Pottawatomies, Menomonees, Otawas, Ojib- 
was, Hurons, Algonquins, Abcnakis and others, being repre- 
sented), Kondiaronk, almost in a dying state, makes a last 
speech of great effect. He dies the following night, and is 
buried, with great demonstrations of respect, in the principal 
church of Montreal. 

August 4th. At the last general assembly (1,300 Indians 
being present), the treaty is signed by thirty-eight deputies. 

The Otawas of Michilimackinac ask for Father Enjalran 



HISTORICAL EVENTS, 



199 




REV. FATHER EDWARD JACKER, 
Discoverer of Marquette's Grave. 



200 ANNALS OF FOKT MACKINAC. 

Snd N'icolas Perrot, :ind insist on the prohibition of tlie 
!iqiior trade in their country. 

1702-3. The Hurons and a part of the Otawas, upon 
Cadillac's pressing invitation, remove to Detroit. 

1705. The remaining Otawas having broken the peace, 
DeLouvignj comes to bring them to reason. He returns to 
the colony with Iroquois prisoners given up to him by the 
Otawas. De Vincennes follows with the chiefs. They apolo- 
gize to the Iroquois, and peace is restored. 

Not a single Christian Indian remaining ; the Otawas, 
since the departure of the Hurons proving unmanageable, 
and the licentiousness of the bush-lopers {cov/reurs de hois) 
exceeding all bounds, the missionaries (De Carheil, Marest, 
and perhaps Enjalran) burn the church and house, and leave 
for Quebec. Governor General de Yaudreuil sends orders 
to all the French at Michilimackinac to come down to the 
colony. 

1712. Governor General de Vaudreuil sent De Louvigny 
to re-establish Fort Michilimackinac, which he did, but on 
the south shore. 

1721. Peter Francis Xavier Charlevoix at Michilimack- 
inac. 

1728. Sieur Marchand De Lignery's expedition at Mich- 
ilimackinac. 

1730. Sieur De Buissou in command at Michilimackinac 

1759. July 24th. Fort Niagara surrendered to the 
British. 

September 18th. Quebec, the capital of New France 
(Canada), surrendered. 

1760. September 8th. Montreal, and all the French- 
Canadian territory, surrendered to the British. 

1761. September 28th. British troops first arrived at 
Michilimackinac. Captain Belfour, of the 80th Regiment, 



HISTOKICAL EVENTS. 201 

arrived from Detroit with a detaclinient of the 60th and 
80th Regiments. Leaving Lieutenant Leslie, of the Royal 
American or 60tli Regiment, with one sergeant, one corporal, 
one drummer, and twenty-five privates of the same regiment, 
Captain Belfour and his party, on October 1st, proceeded to 
Green Bay, Wis. 

Although the British occupied and controlled Canada, it 
was not formally ceded to Great Britain until 1763, 

The preliminaries of peace were signed at Fontainebleau, 
November 3d, 1762, between the courts of France, Spain 
and Great Britain. By the definitive treaty signed at Paris, 
February 10th, 1763, by these three great powers, together 
with Portugal, Canada was ceded to Great Britain. 

Great Britain restored to Spain the territory she had con- 
quered in the Island of Cuba : and in consequence of this 
restitution, Spain ceded to Great Britain, Florida with Fort 
St. Augustin and the Bay of Pensacola, and all the Spanish 
possessions on the continent of North America, east of the 
Mississippi River, In 1783, Great Britain retroceded Florida 
to Spain. By a treaty made in 1819 (ratified in 1821), be- 
tween the United States and Spain, florida was ceded by 
Spain to the United States, the latter paying $5,000,000. 

France, by an act passed at Fontainebleau, November 3d, 
1762, ceded the country tlien known as Louisiana, to Spain. 
The cession was accepted by an act passed at the Escurial, 
November 13th, of the same year. Spain retroceded Louisi- 
ana to France, by a treaty of St. Ildefonso, October 1st, 1800. 
France ceded Louisiana to the United States in 1803, the 
hitter paying $15,000,000. 



202 ANNALS OF FOKT MACKINAa 



CONSPIRACY OF PONTIAC. 

1763. Under this conspiracy eleven posts were attacked, 
and eight captured, 

June 2d. Fort Michilimackinac was captured. The gar- 
rison consisted of Captain Etherington, Lieutenants Jamet and 
Leslie, and about thirty -five men. A band of Chippewas, 
while playing a game of ball just outside of the Fort, knocked 
the ball, as if by accident, so that it fell inside the stockade; 
the players rushed after it, and seizing their weapons from 
squaws, who had them concealed under their blankets, and 
had previously entered the Fort as a part of the plot, they 
raised the war-whoop and fell upon the garrison. Lieutenant 
Jamet and fifteen men were killed. Captain Etherington and 
Lieutenant Leslie, who were watching the game of ball, and 
the rest of the garrison were taken prisoners ; they were after- 
wards ransomed by Lieutenant Gorell and his command from 
the Fort at Green Bay. 

1779. At noon Sunday, Oct. 3d, the new Fort at Detroit 
was named " Fort Lehault." 

Oct. 4. Lieut.-Governor Patrick Sinclair arrived at 
"Old Mackinaw." 

Oct. 15. Major Arent Schuyler DePeyster left Old Mack- 
inaw at 5 p. M. for Detroit, on board His Majesty's armed 
sloop Welcome, Alexander Harrow, Master. 

Oct. 20. Major DePeyster arrived at Detroit at 8 a. m. 

Saturday, Nov. 6. Lieut.-Gov. Sinclair sent a detach- 
ment of artificers to live and work upon Mackinac Island. 
The timbers of a house for their use were carried over with 
them, on the sloop Welcome. 

Major DePeyster with a view of building a Fort there- 
upon and removing there with the garrison from Old 



HISTORICAL EVENTS. 203 

Mackinaw, as a measure of safety from, the Americans, had 
previously secured a title to the Island from the Chippewa 
chief Kitchienago, who occupied it with his band. 

1780. Early in the year the timbers of the Catholic 
church at Old Mackinaw were hauled over the ice to Mack- 
inac Island and the churcli re-erected in what is now the old 
graveyard on Astor street. 

Oct. 22. John Donald, one of the crew of the sloop 
Welcome, while on watch, fell from the wharf at the island 
and was drowned. He was buried Oct. 24th, at Old Mack- 
inaw. 

The first Government wharf at the island was about sev- 
enty feet west of the present one, and on the prolongation 
of the line of the old roadway which runs from in front of 
the south sally-port down through the present Fort gardens. 

The bay in front of the Fort was called "Haldimand Bay." 

Nov. 4. Lieut.-Gov. Patrick Sinclair removed from Old 
Mackinaw to Mackinac Island, 

The history of "Modern Mackinac" properly begins at 
this date. 

Nov. 30. The sloops Welcome and Angelica and the 
schooner DePeyster were laid up for the winter at the island 
wharf. 

Dec. 21. The sloop Archangel was moored astern of the 
Angelica. 

During several of the previous winters some of the Gov- 
ernment vessels were laid up in the Cheboygan River, where 
there was a house which was built for the use of the party 
in charge of the boats. 

There was also during the same period a " hay camp " on 
the Cheboygan River, where hay was cut for use at the Fort. 

1781, Jan. 5. The crews of the- vessels removed from 
the Welcome into a block-house which they had built upon 
the island. 



204 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

This block-house was located near tlie site of the present 
viUage schoolhouse. It was made of cedar timbers which 
were sawn over "saw-pits" duo^ in the woods. 



When practicable in the winter of 1780-81, the troops 
were engaged in hauling over the ice from Old Mackinaw to 
the island the barracks and other buildings belonging to the 
Government. These buildings were made of cedar timbers. 
The doors, windows, bricks, provisions, et cetera, were 
ti-ansported in boats in the fall of 1780 and in the spring 
and summer .of 17S1. 

During the winter of 1780-81 a detachment of soldiers 
wintered at the " Pinery," — a camp on Fine River about 15 
miles north of St. Ignace, where the British had a hay and 
wood camp. 

During the winter of 1780—81 the traders made prepara- 
tions for removing from Old Mackinaw, and in the spring of 
1781 made rafts of the timbers of their buildings and floated 
them to the island, — transporting their goods, et cetera, by 
boats. 



1781. Thursday, May 24. First occupation of the Fort 
constructed upon the Island of Mackinac (a part only of the 
troops moving in). 

The Fort was on the site of the present one, and portions 
of it are still in a good state of preservation. 

The garrison was not entirely withdrawn trom Old Mack- 
inaw until the summer of 1781. when all the Governmenr 
property had been moved to the island. 

1783. By the definitive treaty of peace between Great 
Britain and the United States, made and signed at Paris, Sep- 
tember 3d, 1783, by David Hartley on the part of Great 
Britain, and by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John 
Jay on the part of the United States, the post of Michili- 



HISTORICAL EVENTS. 205 

rnackinac fell within the boundary of the United States, but 
under various pretenses the English refused to withdraw their 
troops, and occupied it with other lake posts. 

1794. By the second article of the treaty of amity, com- 
merce and navigation, between Great Britain and the United 
States, concluded at London, England, November, 19th, 1794, 
and signed by Baron Grenville, on the part of Great Bi'itain, 
and by Hon. John Jay, on the part of the United States 
(ratifications exchanged October 2Sth, 1795, and proclaimed 
February 29th, 1796), it was stipulated that from all posts 
within the boundary lines assigned, by the treaty of peace to 
the United States, the British troops should be withdrawii on 
or before June 1st, 1796. 

1795. By stipulation 13, article 3, of a treaty of peace 
between the United States and the tribes of Indians called 
the Wyandots, Delawares, Shawnees, Otawas, Chippewas, 
Pottawatomies, Miamis, Eel Rivers, Weas, Kickapoos, Pinke- 
shaws and Kaskaskias, made at Greenville, Ohio, on the 3d 
of August, 1795, and signed by General Anthony Wayne, on 
the part of the United States, and by the Sachems and War- 
chiefs of the said tribes, the Indians ceded to the United 
States "the post of Michilimackinac, and all the land on the 
island on which that post stands, and the main land adjacent, 
on which the Indian title has been extinguished by gifts or 
grants, to the French or English Governments ; and a piece 
of land on the main to the north of the island, to measure 
six miles, on Lake Huron, or the strait between Lakes Huron 
and Michigan, and to extend three miles back f i-om the water 
of the lake or strait ; and also, the island " Bois Blanc," the 
latter being an extra and voluntary gift of the Chippewa 
nation." 

1796. October. Two companie-s of United States troops, 
under the command of Major Henry Burbeck, with Captain 
Abner Prior and Lieuteiiants Ebenezer Massay and John 



206 ANJSALS OF FUKT MACKINAC. 

Michael, arrived and took possession of the post of Mieliili- 
mackinac. 

1802. In the year ISOO the Connecticut Missionary So- 
ciety sent Rev. David Bacon (father of the late Rev. Dr. 
Leonard Bacon, of New Haven, who was born in Detroit in 
1802) as a missionary to our frontier; he ariived at Detroit 
August 11th, 1800, where he was entertained at the house of 
tlie commandant, Major Thomas Hunt, U. S. A. 

Mr. Bacon left Detroit, with his family, and came to 
Mackinac in June, 1802, where he remained, teaching and 
preaching until August, 1801:, when he was recalled. 

Rev. David Bacon was tlie,^?'*^ Protestant who preached 
at Mackinac. 

1812. June 18th, war with Gi'eat Britain was declared by 
the Congress of the United States by a vote of 79 to 40 in 
the House, and 19 to 13 in the Senate. June 19th, war was 
formally proclaimed by President Madison. 



HISTORICAL EVENTS. 207 



STJKKENDER OF FORT MICHILIMACKmAC 

Detroit, August 4tli, 1812. 

Sir — I take the earliest opportunity to acquaint Your Excellency of 
the surrender of the garrison of Michilimackinac, under my command, to 
his Britannic Majesty's forces under the command of Captain Charles 
Roberts, on the ITtli ultimo, the particulars of which are as follows: On 
the 16lh, I was iufonned by the Indian Interpreter that he had discovered 
from an Indian that the several nations of Indians then at St. Joseph (a 
British garrison, distant about forty miles) intended to make an imme- 
diate attack on Michilimackinac. 

I was inclined, from the coolness I had discovered in some of the prin- 
cipal chiefs of the Ottawa and Chippewa nations, who had but a few days 
before professed the greatest friendship for the United States, to place 
confidence in this report. 

I immediately called a meeting of the American gentlemen at that- time 
on the island, in which it was thought proper to dispatch a coufldeuLial 
person to St. Joseph to watch the motions of the Indians. 

Captain Michael Dousman, of the militia, was thought the most suitable 
for this service. He embarked about sunset, and met the British forces 
within ten or fifteen miles of the island, by whom he was made prisoner 
and put on his parole of honor. He was landed on the island at day- 
break, with positive directions to give me no intelligence whatever. He 
was also instructed to take the inhabitants of the village, indiscriminately, 
to a place on the west side of the island where their persons and property 
should be protected by a British guard, but should they goto the Fort, 
they would be subject to a general massacre by the savages, which would 
be inevitable if the garrison fired a gun. This information I received 
from Doctor Day, who was passing through the village when every person 
was flying for refuge to the enemy. I immediately, on being informed 
of the approach of the enemy, placed ammunition, etc., in the Block 
houses; ordered every gun charged, and made every preparation for 
action. About 9 o'clock I could discover that the enemy were in posses- 
sion of the heights that commanded the Fort, and one piece of their artil 
lery directed to the most defenceless part of the garrison. The Indians 
at this time were to be seen in great numbers in the edge of the wood.'; 



208 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

A.t half-past 11 o'clock the enemy sent in a Mg of truce, demanding asur 
render of the Fort and island to his Britannic Majesty's forces. This, Sir. 
was the first information 1 liad ot'tiie declaration of war; I, however, had 
anticipated it, and was as well prepared to meet such an event as I pos- 
sibly could have been with the force under my command, amounting 
to 57 eflfective men, including officers. Three American gentlemen, who 
were prisoners, were permitted to accompmy the flag: from them I ascer- 
tained the strength of the eneni}'' to be from nine hundred to one thousand 
strong, consisting of regular troops, Canadians and savages; that they 
had two pieces of artillery, and were provided with ladders and ropes for 
the purpose of scaling the works, if necessary. After I had obtained this 
information, I consulted my officers, and also the American gentlemen 
present, who were very intelligent men; the result of which was, that it 
was impossible for the garrison to hold out against such a superior force. 
Ill this opinion I fully concurred, from the conviction that it was the only 
measure that could prevent a general massacre. The Fort and garrison 
were accordingly surrendered. 

The enclosed papers exhibit copies of the correspondence l)etween the 
officer commanding the British forces and myself, and of the articles of 
capitulatioc. This subject involved questions of a peculiar nature; and 
I hope, iSir, that my demands and protests will meet the approbation of 
ray government. I cannot allow this opportunity to escape without ex- 
pressing my obligation to Doctor Sylvester Day, for the service he ren- 
dered me in conducting this correspondence. 

In consequence of this unfortunate affair, I beg leave. Sir, to demand 
that a Court of Inquiry may be ordered to investigate all the facts con 
nected with it; and I do further request, that the court may be specially 
directed to express their opinion on the merits of the case. 

I have the honour to be, Sir, etc., 

PORTER HANKS, 

Lieutenant of Artillery 
His Excellency Gteneral Hull, 

Commanding the N. W. Army. 

P. S. — The foUowinir particulars relating to the British force were ob 
taiaed after the capitulation, from a source that admits of no doubt: 



HISTORICAL EVENTS. - 9Qp 

Regular troops 4G Including 4 officers 

Canadian militia 2G0 

Total 306 

Savages, 

Sioux 66 

Winnebagoes 48 

Menomonees 39 

Chippewas and Ottawas 572 

715 Savages. 
306 Whites. 

Total 1021 

It may also be remarked, that one hundred and fifty Chippewas and 
Ottawas joined the British two days after the capitulation. 

P. H. 



HEiaHTS ABOVE MiCHiLiMACKiNAC, 17th July, 1812. 

CAPITULATION 

Agreed upon beticeen Captain Charles Roberts, commanding Ms Britannic 

Majesty's forces, on the one part, and Lieutenant Porter Hanks, 

commanding the troops of the United States of America, 

on the other, 

ARTICLES. 

I. The Fort of Michilimacklnac shall immediately be surrendered to 
the British forces. Granted. 

II. The garrison shall march out with the honours of war, lay down 
their arms, and become prisoners of war, and shall be sent to the United 
States of America by his Britannic Majesty, not to serve iu this war 
until regularly exchanged; and for the due performance of this article 
the officers pledge their word and honour. Granted. 

III. All the merchant vessels in the harbour, with their cargoes, shall 
be in the possession of their respective owners. Granted. 

IV. Private property shall be held sacred so far as in my power. 
Granted. 



210 - ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

V. All citizens of the United States of America who shall not take the 
oath of allegiance to his Britannic Majesty, shall depart with their prop- 
erty from this island in one month from the dale hereof. Granted. 

(Signed) CHARLES ROBERTS. 

Captain Commanding H. B. Majesty's Forces. 

PORTER HANK:S, 
Lieutenant Commanding the Forces of the 

United States at Fort Michilimackinac. 



Notes. — Dr. Sylvester Day, U. S. A., was the Surgeon at the 
Fort. He and his family resided at the time on Astor street, in 
a house belonging to Samuel Abbott, which stood on the site of 
the house built in 1886 by Patrick Donnelly. Michael Dousmau 
went to the house and told the inmates of the presence of the 
British on the island. Dr. Day immediately arose, and taking 
his family (one of whom, his son, is now Gen. Hannibal Day, 
U. S. A.), went to the Fort and warned the garrison of the 
approach of the foe. 

On July 15th, Captain Charles Roberts, of the Tenth Royal 
Veteran Battalion, in command of a detachment of his regiment 
at St. Joseph's Island, St. Mary's River, received letters by express 
from Gen. Brock, informing him that war had been declared, and 
ordering him to " adopt the most punctual measures." 

Leaving an officer and six privates to take care of the build- 
ings, Captain Roberts, at ten o'clock on the morning of the 16th, 
embarked his " few men with about one hundred and eighty 
Canadian engagees half of them without arms, about three hun- 
dred Indians and two iron six-pounders," in ten batteaux, seventy 
canoes, and on the IST. W. Co's ship " Caledonia." 

The boat arrived at the place since then known as " British 
Landing," at three o'clock on the morning of the 17th, and 
through the exertions of the Canadians, one of the guns was 
taken to a height commanding the Fort. 

The American troops numbered sixty-three persons, including 
five sick men and one di'ummer boy. 

There were nine vessels in the harbor, having on board forty- 
seven men. After the capituhition two other vessels arrived, 
with seven hundred packs of furs. 

The prisoners were sent to Detroit, arriving there August 4th, 
thence to Fort Fayette, where Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, now 



• HISTORICAL EVENTS. 2 1 J 

Stands, where a roll shows them to have been mustered on 
the 17th daj of November, 1812. 

Lieutenant Hanks was killed August 16, while still on 
parole, by a shot fired from the Canadian side, while he was 
standing in the vestibule of the quarters occupied by Captain 
Samuel T. Dyson and Lieutenant William .Whistler, in the 
fort at Detroit. 

The citizens sought refuge in an old distillery, which was 
situated under the bluff near the old Indian burying ground, 
west of the village. The British sent a guard there immedi- 
ately after landing. 

The three American gentlemen (prisoners) referred to by 
Lieutenant Hanks, went from the distillery to Captain Rob- 
erts' command. They were Samuel Abbott, John Dousman 
and Ambrose R Davenport, all prominent citizens of the 
village, and well calculated to comprehend the true state of 
affairs. 

Fort Holmes was built while the British held possession of 
the island, in 1812 and 1814. The inhabitants of the village 
were all forced to contribute labor. 

It was called by the British Fort George, in honor of the 
British king ; afterward rechristened by the Americans in 
honor of Major Andrew Hunter Holmes, who was killed 
August 4, 1814. 

The old ditches can be plainly seen ; the parapet was pro- ■ 
tected by cedar pickets, so planted as to render scaling im- 
possible without a ladder. The covered ways, constructed 
to shelter the troops, have fallen in. In the centre of the 
enclosure there was a building used as a block-house and 
powder magazine. It was removed by the Americans, and 
is now used as the government stable. 

The platform that now crowns the summit, and com- 
mands a magnificent view of the Straits and the surround- 
ing country, was built in 1886. As you stand on this 
platform, three hundred and thirtj-six feet above the 



212 



ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 



level of the surrounding water, facing toward the flag-staff 
in the Fort, on your right is Point St. Ignace, four miles 
distant, the southern :iXtremity of the northern peninsula of 
Michigan ; nearly in front of yon lies Mackinaw City ; eight 
miles distant, on the northern point of the southern penin- 




Block House, Built in 1780. 



pula, a little to the right, is where old Fort Michilimackinac 
stood, where the massacre of June 2d, 1763, took place ; a 
little farther to the left Cheboygan, eighteen miles distant, 
and off to the left, where the northern shore and the water 
seem to mingle and disappear together, is the mouth of the 
St. Mary's River, thirty-seven miles distant. 



HISTOKICAL EVENTS. OIQ 



NAYAL BATTLE ON LAKE ERIE 

1813. September 10th, the hostile fleets of Great Britain 
and the United States, on Lake Erie, met near the head of 
the Lake, and a sanguinary battle ensued. The British fleet 
consisted of six vessels, carrying sixty-four guns, under com- 
mand of the veteran Commodore Barclay, and the fleet of 
the United States consisted of nine vessels, carrying fifty- 
four guns, under command of the young and brave Commo- 
dore Oliver H. Perry. The result of this important conflict 
was made known to the world in the following laconic dis- 
patch, written at 4 p. m. of that day : 

"Dear Genehal: — We have met iho euemy, and they are ours. Two 
ships, two brigs, one schooner, and one sloop. 

" With esteem, etc., 

"O. H. PERBY 
"Qeneral William H. Haabisok." 



214 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 



Block House, Built In 1780-81. 



ANNALS OF FOKT MACKINAC. 216 



BATTLE OF MICHILIMACKINAO. 

KEPOKT OF COL. GEORGE CROGHAN. 

U. S. S. War Niagara, off Thtindbb bat, ) 
August 9tli, 1814. J 

Sir— "We left Port Gratiot (head of the straits St. Clair) on the 12th 
alt. and imagined that we should arrive in a few days at Malshadash Bay. 
At the end of a week, however, the commodore from the want of pilots ac- 
quainted with that unfrequented part of the lake, despaired of being able to 
And a passage through the island into the bay, and made for St. Joseph's, 
where he anchored on 20th day of July. After setting fire to the Fort of St. 
Joseph's, which seemed not to have been recently occupied, a detachment 
of infantry and artillery, under Major Holmes, was ordered to Sault St. 
Mary's, for the purpose of breaking up the enemy's establishment at that 
place. 

For particulars relative to the execution of this order, I beg leave to 
refer you to Major Holmes' report herewith enclosed. Finding on my 
arrival at Michilimackinac, on the 26th ult, that the enemy had strongly 
fortified the height overlooking the old Fort of Mackinac, I at once de- 
spaired of being able with my small force, to carry the place by storm, 
and determined (as the only course remaining) on landing and establish- 
ing myself on some favorable position, whence I could be enabled to 
annoy the enemy by gradual and slow approaches, under cover of my 
artillery, in which I should have the superiority in point of metal. I was 
urged to adopt this step by another reason, not a little cogent ; could a 
position be taken and fortified on the island, I was well aware thai it 
would either induce the enemy to attack me in my strongholds, or force 
his Indians and Canadians (the most efficient, and only disposable foice) 
off the island, as they would be very unwilling to remain in my ueighV-or- 
iiood after a permanent footing had been taken. On enquiry, I leajaed 
from individuals who had lived many years on the island, that a position 
desirable as I might wish, could be found on the west end, and therefore 
immediately made arrangements for disembarking. A landing was 
effected on the 4th inst., under cover of the guns of the shipping, and 
the line being quickly formed, had advanced to the edge of the field 
spoken of for a camp, when intelligence was conveyed to me, that th? 



216 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

enemy was ahead, and a few seconds more brought us a fire from his 
battery of four pieces, firing shot and shells. After reconnoitering his 
position, which was well selected, his line reached along the edge of the 
Voods, at the further extremity of the field and covered by a temporary 
breast work ; 1 determined on changing my position (which was now two 
lines, the militia forming the front), by advancing Major Holmes' battal- 
ion of regulars on the right of the militia, thus to outflank him, and by a 
vigorous effort to gaia his rear. The movement was immediately ordered, 
but before it could be executed, a fire was opened by some Indians posted 
in a thick wood near our right, which proved fatal to Major Holmes and 
severely wounded Captain Desha (the next oflicer in rank). This unlucky 
fire, by depriving us of the services of our most valuable officers, threw 
that part of the line into coufu'sion from which the best exertions of the 
officers were not able to recover it. Finding it impossible to gain the 
enemj-^'s left, owing to the impenetrable thickness of the woods, a charge 
was ordered to be made by the regulars immediately against the front. 
This charge although made in some confusion, served to drive the enemy 
back into the woods, from whence an annoying fire was kept up by the 
Indians. 

Lieut. Moi^An was ordered up with a light piece to assist the left, now 
particularly galled ; the excellent practice of this brought the enemy to 
fire at a longer distance. Discovering that this disposition from whence 
the enemy hud just been driven (and which had been represented to me 
as so high and commanding), was by no means tenable, from being inter- 
spersed with tliickets, and intersected in every way by ravines, I deter- 
mined no longer to expose my force to the fire of an enemy deriving 
every advantage which could be obtained from numbers and a knowledge 
of thp posiHou, and therefore ordered an immediate retreat towards the 
shipping. This affair, which cost us many valuable lives, leaves us to 
lament the fall of that gallant officer. Major Holmes, whose character is 
so well known to the war department. Captain Van Home, of the 19th 
Infantry and Lieut. Jackson of the 24th Infantry, both brave intrepid 
3^our>g men fell mortally wounded at the head of their respective com- 
mands. 

The conduct of all my officers on this occasion merits my approbation. 
Captain Desha, of the 24th Infantry, although wounded, continued 
with his command until forced to retire from faintness through loss of 
blood. Captains Saunders, Hawkins and Sturges, with every subalterp 



HISTORICAL EVENTS. 217 

of that battalion, acted in the most exemplary manner. Ensign Bryan, 
2ucl Kifle Kegiment, acting Adjutant to the battalion, actively forwarded 
the wishes of the commanding officer. Lieuts. Hickman, 28th Infantry, 
and Hyde of the U. S. Marines, who commanded the reserve, claim my 
particular thanks for their activity in keeping that command in readiness 
to meet any exigency. I have before mentioned Lieut. Morgan's activity; 
his two assistants, Lieut. Pickett and Mr. Peters, conductor of artillery, 
also merit the name of good officers. 

The militia were wanting in no part of their duty. Colonel Cotgreave, 
his officers and soldiers, deserve the warmest approbation, My acting 
assistant Adjutant General Captain N. H. Moore, 28th Infantry, with 
volunteer Adjutant McComb, were prompt in delivering my orders. 

Captain Gratiot of the engineers, who voluntered his services as Adju- 
tant on the occasion, gave me valuable assistance. On the morning of the 
5th, I sent a flag to the enemy, to enquire into the state of the wounded 
(two in number), who were left on the field, and to request permission to 
bring away the body of Major Holmes, which was also left, owing to the 
unpardonable neglect of the soldiers in whose hands it was placed. 1 
am happy in assuring you, that the body of Major Holmes is secured, 
and will be buried at Detroit with becoming honors. I shall discharge 
the militia to-morrow, and will send them down, together with two regu- 
lar companies to Detroit. 

With the remaining three companies I shall attempt to destroy the 
enemy's establishment in the head of Naw-taw-wa-sa-ga River, and if it 
be thought proper, erect a post at the mouth of that river. 

Very respectfully, I have the honor to remain, sir, your obedient 
rferrant. 

G. CROGHAN, 

Lieut.-Col. Snd Riflemen. 
To Hon. J. Armstrong, 

Secretary of War. 



218 ANNALS OF FOET MACKINAC. 



REPORT OF KILLED, WOUNDED AND MISSING, ON 
AUGUST 4th, 1814. 

On boakd the U. S. Sloop op Wab Niagara, ) 
11th August, 1814. f 

Artillery — wounded, three privates. 

Infantry — 17th Regiment; killed, five privates, wounded, two sergeants, 
two corporals, fifteen privates. Two privates since dead. Two privates 
missing. 

19th Regiment — wounded, one captain, nine privates. Captain Isaac 
Van Home, Jr., since dead — one private since dead. 

24th Regiment — killed, five privates; wounded, one captain, one lieu- 
tenant, three sergeants, one corporal, one musician, five privates. Cap- 
tain Robert Desha severely; Lieut. Hezekiah Jackson since dead — one 
sergeant since dead. 

32nd Regiment — killed, one major. Major Andrew Hunter Holmes. 

United States Marines — wounded, one sergeant. 

Ohio Militia — killed, two privates; wounded, six privates — one private 
Bince dead of his wounds. 

Grand total— one major and twelve privates killed; two captains, one 
lieutenant, six sergeants, three corporals, one musician and thirty-eight 
privates wounded. Two privates missing. 

The above return exhibits a true statement of the killed wounded and 
missing in the affair of the 4th instant. 

N. H. MOORE, 

Captain 28th Infantry, 
Acting Assistant Adjutant- General. 



220 Al^NALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 



REPORT OF CAPTAIN SINCLAIR. 

United States Sloop of War Niagara, ( 
Off Thunder Bay, August 9th, 1814. { 

Sir — I arrived ofE Michilimackinac on the 26th July; but owing to a 
tedious spell of bad weather, which prevented our reconnoitering, or 
being able to procure a prisoner who could give us information of the 
enemy's Indian force, which, from several little skirmishes we had on au 
adjacent island, appeared to be very great, we did not attempt a landing 
Atil the 4th inst., and it was then made more with a view to ascertain 
positively the eaemj''s strength, than with any possible hope of success; 
knowing, at the same time, that I could effectually cover their landing 
and retreat to the ships, from the position I had taken within 300 yards 
of the beach. Col. Croghan would never have landed, even with this 
protection, being positive, as he was, that the Indian force alone on the 
island, with the advantages they had, were superior to him, could he 
have justified himself to his government, without having stronger proof 
than appearances, that he could not effect the object in view. Mackinac 
is, by nature, a perfect Gibraltar, being a high inaccessible rock on every 
side, except the west, from which to the hights, you have near two miles 
to pass through a wood, so thick that our men were shot in every direc- 
tion, and within a few yards of them, without being able to see the 
Indians who did it; and a height was scarcely gained before there was 
another within 50 or 100 yards commanding it, where breastworks were 
erected and cannon opened on them. Several of those were charged and 
the enemy driven from them; but it was soon found the further our 
troops advanced the stronger the enemy became, and the wsaker and 
more bewildered our forces were; several of the comm;inding officers 
were picked out and killed or wounded by the savages, without seeing 
any of them. The men were getting lost and falling into confusion, 
natural under such circumstances, which demanded an immediate retreat, 
or a total defeat and general massacre must have ensued. This was con- 
ducted in a masterly manner by Col. Croghan, who had lost the aid of 
that valuable and ever to be lamented officer. Major Holmes, who, with 
Captain VanHorn, was killed by the Indians. 

The enemy were driven from many of their strongholds; but such was 



HISTOKICAL EVENTS. 221 

the impenetrable thickness of the woods, that no advantage gained could 
be profited by. Our attack would have been made immediately under 
the lower fort, that the enemy might not have been able to use his Indian 
force to such advantage as in the woods, having discovered by drawing a 
Are from him in several instances, that I had greatly the superiority of 
metal of him ; but its site being about 130 feat above the water, I could 
not, when near enough to do him an injury, elevate suflSciently to batter 
it. Above this, nearly as high again, he has another strong fort, com- 
manding every point on the island, and almost perpendicular on all sides. 
Col. Croghan not deeming it prudent to make a second attempt upon this 
place, and having ascertained to a certainty that the only naval force the 
enemy have upon the lakes consists of one schooner of four guns, I have 
determined to despatch the " Lawrence " and " Caledonia " to Lake Erie 
immediately, believing their services in transporting our armies there will 
be wanting; and it being important that the sick and wounded, amount- 
ing to about 100, and that part of the detachment not necessary to further 
our future operations here, should reach Detroit without delay. By an 
intelligent prisoner, captured in the "Mink," I ascertained this, and that 
the mechanics and others sent across from York during the winter were 
for the purpose of building a flotilla to transport reinforcements and sup- 
plies to Mackinac. An attempt was made to transport them by the way of 
Matchadash, but it was found impracticable, from all the portages being 
a morass; that they then resorted to a small river called Nautawasaga, 
situated to the south of Matchadash, from which there is a portage of three 
leagues over a good road to Lake Simcoe. This place was never known 
until pointed out to them last summer by an Indian. This river is very 
narrow, and has six or eight feet water in it about three miles up, and is 
then a muddy, rapid shallow for 45 miles up to the portage, where their 
armada was built, and their storehouses are now situated. The naviga- 
tion is dangerous and difficult, and so obscured by rocks and bushes that 
no stranger could ever find it. I have, however, availed myself of the 
means of discovering it; I shall also blockade the mouth of French River 
until the fall; and those being the only two channels of communication 
by which Mackinac can possibly be supplied, and their provisions at this 
lime being extremely short, I think they will be starved into a surrender. 
This will also cut off all supplies to the Northwest Company, who are now 
nearly starving, and their furs on hand can only find transportation by 
the way of Hudson Bay. At this place I calculate on falling in with 



222 ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

their schooner, which, it is said, has gone there for a load of provisions, 
and a message sent to her not to venture up while we are on the Lake. 
Very respectfully, I have the honor to remain, Sir, 
Your obedient servant, 

ARTHUR SINCLAIR 
To Hon. Wm. Jones, 

Secretary of the Navy. 

Notes. — Col. Croghan landed with his troops at what is 
now called ' British Landing,' so named from the fact that 
the British landed there on the night of the 16th and 17th 
of July, 1812, when they successfully surprised Fort Mack- 
inac. 

On entering the gate on the road leading to British Land- 
ing, after passing through the narrow belt of timber, you 
come to a slight ridge which crosses the road, passing diagon- 
ally through an orchard, on the left. 

On the south side of this ridge the British troops were 
concealed, having four field pieces; the line was protected by 
a hastily constructed abattis, and the left by an entrenchment, 
the remains of which can be seen in the orchard some 250 
yards to the left of, and nearly parallel to, the road. 

The British forces were under the command of Lieut.-CoL 
Robert McDouall, Glengarry Light Infantry Feucibles, then 
in command at Fort Mackinac. 

Major Holmes' body was put on board a schooner and sent 
to Detroit, where it was buried in the old cemetery on the 
corner of Larned street and Woodward avenue, on land 
belonging to '' The First Protestant Society." In 1834: when 
excavating for the building of " The First Protestant Church " 
the remains of Major Hohnes were found with six cannon 
balls in the coffin. The balls were placed in the coffin for 
the purpose of sinking the body if in danger of being cap- 
tured by the British while on its way to Detroit. The 
remains were placed in a box and buried in the Protestant 
cemetery near Gratiot, Beaubien and Antoine streets. •" 



HISTORICAL EVENTS. 223 

1815. By the treaty of peace and amity between Great 
Britain and the United States, concluded at Ghent, Belgium, 
December 24t]i, 1814, and signed by Lord Gambler, Henry 
Gonlbourn and William Adams, on the part of Great 
Britain, and by John Qnincy Adams, James A. Bayard, 
Henry Clay, Jonathan Russell and Albert Gallatin, on the 
part of the United States (ratifications exchanged February 
17th, and proclaimed February 18th, 1815), the post of 
Michilimackinac was again restored to the United States. 

On March 28th, Lieut.-General Sir Gordon Drummond 
sent a despatch from York (now Toronto), Canada, to Lieut.- 
Colonel Robert McDouall, of the Glengarry Light Infantry 
Fencibles, commanding Fort Mackinac and Dependencies, 
announcing the restoration of peace between Great Britain 
and the United States. This despatch reached Mackinac 
May Ist, and of it Col. McDouall in a letter of May 5th, to 
Colonel Anthony Butler, 2d Rifles, commanding " Michigan 
Territory and District of Upper Canada," said, " this was the 
first official communication I had received from my Govern- 
ment, announcing the termination of hostilities and the res- 
toration of the blessings of peace." 

Upon the receipt of the above despatch. Col. McDouall 
sent a detachment of troops to Drummond's Island to pre- 
pare for the removal thither, of the Mackinac Garrison. 

The efforts made at all times by Col. McDouall to protect 
American citizens and their property from the Indians, 
deserve mention. 

On the same day and by the same conveyance that brought 
General Drummond's despatch, Col. McDouall received a 
letter from Col. Butler, dated Detroit, April 16th, in refer- 
ence to the reoccupation of Fort Mackinac by U. S. troops. 
Col. McDouall's reply, dated May 5th, was conveyed to Col. 
Butler by Lieut. Worley, of the Royal Navy. 

The details connected with the restoration of Fort Macki 



22 J- AMNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 

nnc to the United States, and of Fort Maiden, Amho^'stburg 
and Isle aux Bois Blanc to Great Britain, were arranged 
between Col. Anthony Butler, on the part of the United 
States, and Lieut. Colonel W. W. Jauies, of the British 
Infantry, on the part of Great Britain. 

The United States troops were withdrawn from Fort Mai- 
den, Amherstburg and Isle aux Bois Blanc, at noon on the 
first day of July. 

British troops, Col. MeDouall in command, occupied Fort 
Mackinac until noon July 18th, when they were relieved by 
United States troops, consisting of two companies of Rifle- 
men (Captains Wil lough by Morgan and Joseph Kean), and 
half a company (Captain Benjamin K. Pierce's), of artillery, 
under command of Colonel Anthony Butler. 

These troops with supplies for six months, left Detroit 
July 3d, in four vessels (commanded by Lieut. Samuel 
Woodhouse, U. S. N)., viz.: the U. S. sloop of war Niagara, 
the U. S. schooner Porcupine, and two private vessels char- 
tered for the trip. William Gamble, Collector of Customs 
for Mackinac, accompanied the troops. 

The British withdrew to Druramond's Island in the St. 
Mary's River, where they established a post. 

Colonel Butler immediately relnrnGd to LVtroit, leaving 
Captain Willonghby Morgan in cuiumand at Fort Mackinac. 

Captain Morgan changed the name of Fort George to Fort 
Holmes, and for a short time garrisoned it with a small 
detachment. He also appointed Michael Dousman, a resi- 
dent citizen, Military Agent for Mackinac. 

Major Talbot Chambers, of the Riflemen, arrived at Fort 
Mackinac, August 31st, and took command, relieving Cap- 
tain Morgan, who was ordered to Detroit. 

1816. Two companies of Rifles left Fort Mackinac, 
under the command of Colonel John Miller, and established 
Fort Howard, at Green Bay, Wis. 



HISTORICAL EVENTS. 225 

1819. June 19th. i'Trs^ arrival of a steamboat at Mackinac 
Island. 

The " Walk-in-the-Water," the^rs^ steamboat on the Upper 
Lakes and ihe^firsf at Mackinac Island, arrived at V a. m., from 
Detroit. 

Among the passengers on board was Major-General Jacob 
Brown, IJ. S. A., commanding the Military Division of the 
North, and bis suite. 

June 20th. The steamboat went to " Point Sable " for wood. 

June 22d. The steamboat started for Detroit. 

1821. June 21st. In the west end of tlie basement of the 
cottage on the corner of Astor and Fort Streets (then used as 
the retail store of the American Fur Co.), occurred an accident 
the result of which is known to the medical fraternity through- 
out the world. We refer to the accidental shooting, in the 
left side, of Alexis St. Martin, a Canadian, eighteen years of 
age, in the employ of the American Fur Company. 

St. Martin was not more than a yard from the muzzle of the 
gun, which was loaded with powder and duck-shot. To be 
brief, a hole was made into the stomach, which healed but 
never closed. Through this aperture, the action of the stom- 
ach, on various kinds of food, was observed. These experi- 
ments, extending through a series of years, gave much valuable 
information. Dr. William Beaumont, U. S. A., at that time 
the Post Surgeon, attended the wounded man and afterward 
made the experiments. 

1823. Rev. William Montague Ferry, by direction of the 
United Foreign Missionary Society, established a mission for 
the Indians of the Northwest at Mackinac Island, this location 
being chosen because it was the center of the fur trade in the 
Northwest. 

Mr. Ferry arrived at Mackinac October 19th, and opened 
school November 3d, with twelve Indian children. At one 
time there were twenty-four assistants, and one hundred and 
eighty scholars. The children from the village attended as 
day scholars, and those from the several tribes as boarders. 

They were trained in habits of industry, and taught trades, 
and how to cultivate the soil, besides receiving a common 
school education. The school was first held in the old Court 
House. In 1825, the building now known as the "Mission 
House," was erected for missionary and school purposes. 



226 ANNAL8 OF FOBT MACKINAC. 

Thomas White Ferry, ex U. S. Senator, was bom in the 
Mission House, June 1, 1827. 

The building known as the " Mission Church," was erected 
in 1830, It was consecrated March 4th, 1831. 

Mr. Ferry was reh'eved August 6th, 1834. He then settled 
at Grand Haven, Mich., where he lived for thirty-three 
years, highly esteemed and eminently useful. He died De- 
cember 30th, 1867. In 1837 the Mission was discontinued. 

1839, October 14th. Fort Mackinac evacuated. 

1840, May 18th. Fort Mackinac reoccupied by Co. H, 
4th Artillery. 

1856, October 12th. Fort Mackinac evacuated. 

1857, May 25th. Fort Mackinac reoccupied by Co. E, 2nd 
Artillery. 

August 2d. Fort Mackinac evacuated. 

1858, June 6th. Fort Mackinac reoccupied by Co. G, 
2nd Artillery. 

1861, April 28. Fort Mackinac evacuated. 

1862. May 10th, the steamer "Illinois" arrived at 
Mackinac from Detroit, having on board Co. A, Stanton 
Guards, Michigan Volunteers, Capt. Grover S. Wormer, of 
Detroit, commanding (afterwards, Lieut.-Col. and Col. 8th 
Michigan Cavalry, and Brevet Brigadier-General United 
States Volunteers,) with First Lieutenant Elias F. Sutton, 
Second Lieutenant Louis Hartmeyer, Chaplain James Knox, 
and Dr. John Gregg, having in charge the following dis- 
tinguished gentlemen from Tennessee, who were State prison- 
ers of war : Gen. William G. Harding, Gen. Washington Bar- 
rows, and Judge Joseph C. Guild. 

For six days after their arrival, the prisoners were allowed 
to remain at the Mission Hotel, under a guard, while quar- 
ters were being prepared in the Fort. The three sets of 
officers' quarters in the wooden building between the stone 
quarters and the guard house, were assigned to them. 

Gen. Harding occupied the set in the west end, or nearest 
the stone quarters, Gen. Barrows, the middle set, and Judge 
Guild, the set in the east end. The rooms were comfort- 
ably furnished by the prisoners, who remained here until 
September 10th, 1862, when the Fort was again evacuated, 



HISTORICAL EVENTS. 227 

the prisoners taken to Detroit, and thence to Johnson's 
Island, Lake Erie. 

1866. August 3d. Fort Mackinac re-occupied by the 4th 
Independent Company, of the Veteran Reserve Corps. 

August 26th. Fort Mackinac evacuated. 

1S67. August 22d. Fort Mackinac re-occupied by Co. B, 
43d United States Infantry. 

1S77. Fathar Marquette's grave discovered at St. Ignace, 
by Very Reverend Edward Jacker. 

1879. Saturday, May 31. Co. C, 10th U. S. Infantry, 
(Lieuts. Kelton and Phimmer) arrived at Fort Mackinac 
from Fort McKavett, Texas. 

18S2. The Protestant Episcopal Church on Fort Street. 
built through the efforts and under the direction of Rev. 
Moses C. Stanley. 

On the 18th day of September the County seat was trans- 
ferred from Mackinac Island to St. Ignace. 

The first building erected on " Hubbard's Annex." 

1883. A cable was laid by the Western Union Telegraph 
Co. to Mackinac Island from St. Ignace. (The latter place 
is connected by cable with Mackinaw City.) The line was 
opened July 13th. 

1885. Three cottages, the first erected on building lots 
in the Mackinac National Park, were built by Mrs. Phoebe 
B. Gehr, Mrs. Charlotte R. Warren, of Chicago, and Col. 
John Atkinson, of Detroit. 

TheJiJ'st lease of a building lot in the Park was to Mrs. 
Gehr, the lease bearing date of April 1st, 1885. 

1887. The " Grand Hotel" built. It was first opened to 
the public on the 15th day of July. 

That eminent philologist and world-renowned student of 
the Indian langu^es, the Very Reverend Edward Jacker, 



228 ANNALS OF FORT MACKJNAO. 

died at Marquette, Mich., on the first day of September. He 
was born at Ellwangen, in Wiirtemberg, Germany, on 
September 2, 1827. 

1888. April lOtii. First arrival in Mackinac waters of 
the new transfer steamer " St. Ignace." 



ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 



229 



Summer Residences. 



The following persons have cottages on Mackinac Island : 

D. B. Stewart, Anchor, 111 

Charley H. Bradley, Bay City, Mich 

William A. Amberg, Chicago, 111 

Charles L. Ames, 

Johu H. Batten, 

Dr. Truman W. Brophy, 

Edward O. Brown, 

George W. Cass, 

Robert Clark, 

John Cudahy, 

Michael Cudahy, 

Mrs. Phebe B. Gehr, ^ 

Alexander D. Hannah, 

Franklin S. Hanson, (3) 

Noah P. Harrison, 

David Hogg, 

Mrs. Gurdon S. Hubbard, (2) 

Dr. L. D. Mc Arthur, 

Walter C. Newberry, 

Edward H. Pitkin, 

Gen. George W. Smith, 

Mrs. James Walsh, 

Major Daniel W. Whittle, 

Mrs. Dr. Murphy, Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Hon. Hugh McCurdy, Corunna, Mich. 

Charles C. Bowen, Detroit, Mich. 

Cornelius Corbett, 

Rt. Rev. Thos. F. Davies, 

Col. Henry M. Duffield, 

William H. Dunning, 

Mrs. Jacob S. Farrand, 



230 



ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC. 



Edward A. Gott, 

Mrs. S. B. Grummond, (2) 

Ransom Hawley, 

H. L. Jenness, 

Mrs. Jane Owen, 

Alansou Slieley, (estate) 

Stephen B. Bond, 

Gilbert E. Bursley, 

Henry R. Freeman, 

Montgomery Hamilton, 

Robert S. Taylor, 

Mrs. Delos A. Blodgett, 

William F. Bulkley, 

Col. E. Crofton Fox, 

William D. Gilbert, 

William O. Hughart, 

Mrs. S. B. Lowe, 

Lyman D. Norris, 

Thomas J. O'Brien, 

William J. Stuart, 

Edwin F. Sweet, 

T. Stewart White, 

Charles W. Caskey, 

Elstner Fisher, 

Mrs. Amanda Belden, 

Frank M. Clark, (2) 

M. H. Lane, 

Frank B. Lay, 

William H. McCourtie, 

Theodore P. Sheldon. 

Mrs. H. G. Wells, 

Ezra P. Barnard, 

Charles E. Anthony, (2) 

Major Clifford M. Anthony, 

Rev. Meade C. Williams, 

Hon. John Edget, 

Major George C. Harrington, 

T. F. Spangler, 



Detroit, Mich. 



Fort Wayne, Ind. 



Grand Rapids, Mich. 



Harbor Springs, Mich. 

^lacksou, Mich. 

Kalamazoo, Mich. 



Menominee, Mich. 
Peoria, 111. 

Princeton, 111. 

Saginaw, Mich. 

Watseka, 111. 

Zanesville, Oliio. 



Lachance 6l Son, 

Grand Hotel Livery Stables 

MACKINAC ISLAND. 



Our Outfits l^(^ad \:\)<i pro(;(^ssior}, Botf; 09 
lapd apd U/at(^r. 

WE HAVE THE VEHICLE YOU WANT: 

Jaunting Cars from Ireland, 
Gondolas from Venice, 

Camels from Egypt, 

Elephants from Asia. 

Take a ride round the Island in our imported Egyptian 

Nile boat " Dahabeah," drawn by four beautiful 

Florida alligators harnessed tandem. 

DRILY EXGURSIOM STARTING AT 3 A. M. 



SPECIAL FACIUTIES FOR BOARDING HORSES AND CARRIAGES. 

High Noon July 1st till Higher Midnight September 30th. 

PLEASE CALL DURING OFFICE HOURS. 




"fV- 



TO 



DETROIT, CLEVELAND 

AND ALL POINTS EAST. 



^Detroit apd ^Ieuelai?d Steam 
JNlaui^atiop Qo's 



NEW STEAMERS 



CITY OF ALPENA" or "CITY OF MACKINAC." 



STEAMERS LEAVE MACKINAC! 



Mondays and Wednesdays at 8:30 A. M. and 

Thursdays and Saturdays at 2:30 P. M, 



It^" For any other information, apply to 



GEO. T. ARNOLD, AGENT, 

MACKINAC ISLAND. 



A. A. SCHANTZ, GEN'L PASS. AGENT, 

DETROIT, MICHIGAN. 



The Clyde Steamship Company 




For CHARLESTON, S. C. the South and Southwest. 
For JACKSONVILLE, Fla., and All Florida Points. 

Pier 29, East River, New York, 

MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS, AT 3 P. M. 

THE ONLY LINE BETWEEN 

NEWYORK^^^JACKSONVILLE.FIa. 

'WITHOUT C5HA.JVGEJ. 

Unsurpassed Passenger Aceomniodations and f'ulslne. 

Steamer "ALGONQUIN," Captain S. C. Piatt. 

Steamer "IROQUOIS," Captain L. W. Pennington. 

Steamer "CHEROKEE," Captain H. A. Bearse. 

Steamer "SEMINOLE," Captain J. K. Chichester. 

Steamer " YAMA8SEE," Captain Joseph McKee. 
Steamer "DELAWARE." 

Through Tickets, Bates and Bills of Lading for all Points South and Southwest, via Charleston 
and all Florida Points via Jacksonville. 

THEO. G. EGER, T. M. A. J. COLE, PASSENGER AGENT. 

M. H. CLYDE, A. T. M. 

5 BoMTllng Green, New Vork. 

WM. P. CLYDE & CO. Gen'l Agents, 

5 Bowling Green, New York, 12 .Soiitli AVharves, Phlladelplila. 



Clyde's St. John's River Line 



(r>E ^A^E^I^^V I^I^SEJ), 



Between JACKSONVILLE, PALATKA, SANFORD, 
ENTERPRISE, Fla., 

AND INTERMEDIATE LANDINGS ON THE ST. JOHN'S RIVER, 



SAILING FROm 



JACKSONVILLE DAILY, EXCEPT SATURDAY, AT 3:30 P. M., 

Making Close Connections with all Railroads at PALATKA, 
ASTOR, BLTJE: springs and SANFORD. 



Through Tickets and Bills of Lading at Lowest Rates to 
all Interior Points in Florida. 



steamer "CITY OF JACKSONVILLE," Captain W. A. Shaw. 
Steamer "F. DE BARRY," Captain Leo Vogel. 

Steamer " EVERGLADE," Captain Creaser. 

Steamer "WELAKA," Captain Ohlsen, 

THEO. G. EGFR, T. m. 

A. J. COLE, Passenger Agent, 

M. H. CLYDE, A. T. M. 

6 Bowling Green, New York. 



V^M. P. CLYDE & CO.; General Agents, 

5 Bow^llng Green, New^ York. 12 SoutU \%'Uarves, Pklladelphla. 



n^ 



RE YOU GOING TO. 



FLORIDA ? 

Tourists find the East Coast of the Peninsular State 
traversed by the 

Jacksonville, St. Augustine & Indian 
River Railway, 

A HAVEN OF REST AND COMFORT. 



Tbls Elegantly Equipped Road folloivs tlie Coast from 

JACKSONVILLE 

Via ST. AUGUSTINE, ORMOND and ROCKLEDGE, 

TO 

WEST PALM BEACH, 

On LAKE WORTH, 

Passing througb Orange Orchards, Vegetable Farms, Pineapple 
Plantations and Cocoauut Groves. 



THE ELEGANT NEW 

HOTEL * ROYAL + POINCIANA 

Is located at PALM BEACH on LAKE WORTH. 



J. R. PARROTT, JOSEPH RICHARDSON. 

Vice-President. General Passenger Agent. 

GENERAL OFFICES, ST. AUGUSTINE, FLA. 



Map of the 

Jacksonville, 
,,,_ stau6ust1ne 

?T,AUGUSTINE AND 

V INDIAN RIVER 

RAILWAY. 




0. roLcv. 



Foley Brothers, 

mackinac island. mich. 
Indian Goods, Bark Work and Relics 



Our Line of LAKE SUPERIOR AGATE JEWEL 
and SPECIMErrS In UiiBui-paHHed 



STEAM 
AGATE 
WORKS 

FOR SHAPING AND POLISHING AGATES 





FOLEY'S .A.X*T GALLERY 

HEADQUARTERS FOR 

Photographic Views 



Artists will go with Parties to any Point on or off M. cklnac 

Island, to make Special Views< for a 

reasonable compensation. 



I 




